How to Install Baseboards Yourself

Baseboard Trim

Planning on installing new baseboards yourself? Installing baseboards can be a fun project for any do-it-yourselfer. It's a relatively simple job that only requires basic carpentry skills. Here is a step by step guide on how to install baseboards yourself.

Things You'll Need

• Safety goggles
• Power Miter saw / Miter box
• Nail set
• Finishing nails
• Power drill
• Measuring tape
• Pencil
• Baseboards
• Hammer

Instructions

1. Figure out how much baseboard trim you will need. Measure each wall with a tape measure. Add up all of the lengths to get your total length.

2. Determine which type of baseboards you wish to use. Head to your local lumber yard or home supply store and purchase the style and length of baseboards you will need. Base boards come in all different shapes, sizes, and wood types.

3. Rough cut your baseboards a little longer than each wall and lay them out around the room. Later will we go back and fine cut the miter joints.

4. Place each baseboard against the wall and mark your cut with a pencil. You can use a tape measure, but it's more accurate if you actually lay the board out and mark it. Cut each miter joint with a power miter saw or Miter box using the 45 degree stop. You can get away with using a miter box and hand saw, but for smoother and faster cuts, I advise heading to your local Home Depot and renting a power miter saw. Saws are relatively cheap and can be rented by the hour.

5. Nail each baseboard to the wall with finishing nails. Drilling pilot holes with a power drill before hand will decrease your chances of splitting the wooden baseboards.

6. Using a nail set, recess the end of the nails into the baseboard. This will hide the nails and prevent snagging.