How to Measure Outside Corners in Base Molding

Installing base molding involves fitting two pieces of wood together so that they fit like jig saw pieces. The first step in the process is measuring outside corners in base molding and more.

Instructions

1. Start measuring for the outside corner at the end. This would be at the place where the base molding would abut with the molding for a door or another fixed point.

2. Measure from the end to the edge of the outside corner.

3. Be sure to measure to where the base molding piece would extend on the base molding. When you put molding to an outside corner, the molding itself would extend beyond the wall itself, so the next piece of base molding can abut against it at a 40 degree angle.

4. Remember that the measurement for the back of the piece, or the portion that rests against the wall, will be shorter than that of the front since the 45 degree angle will take away a 1/2 inch from the entire measurement of the pre-cut piece of base molding.

5. Check your measurements before cutting. Since you are going to be cutting the base molding at an angle, you want to make sure that all of the angles of the base molding will fit together easily, like a jig-saw puzzle.

6. Put the pieces of base molding against the corner to make certain you measure properly for the outside corner. You can always cut away a little more to make the angles fit more closely. It's better to be over in the measurement of the outside corner for base moldings than under. If you take a measurement that's too short, there's little that you can do to have the two corner sections of the base molding fit together.