How to Cut Wood Baseboard Molding

Installing interior baseboard molding can seem a daunting task when taken as a whole. But in the end, it's only a matter of a few simple cuts and accurate measurements. While it may take a little practice, cutting wood baseboard molding is the easy part. Once you've gotten the hang of it, a project that once felt colossal shrinks dramatically and you may well find yourself looking for more rooms to trim.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Wood base molding
• Wood glue
• Stud finder
• Miter saw
• Extendable miter saw supports
• Framing square
• Speed square
• Finish nail gun
• Wood filler
• Silicone caulk
• 120 and 220 grit sand paper

1. Determine a logical path around the project. It is often best to start in areas of the room where the baseboard runs are the longest. Once you have determined your path of installation, walk the perimeter. Study the project, performing the installation process in your mind. Note any possible areas of difficulty and plan your way through them.

2. Set up the miter saw and support legs to accommodate your base molding lengths. Check and adjust the miter saw to the correct cutting angles. Place a speed square on the cutting table of the saw with one side on the cutting fence. Bring the blade down in line with the perpendicular side of the square. If the blade lines up, the saw is good. If it does not line up, adjust it so that it does. Follow the same basic steps in respect to the cutting table and the vertical angle of the blade. The accuracy of the blade alignment will determine the accuracy of your cuts and the corresponding miter joints.

3. Measure carefully. For walls with 90-degree corners, add just under 1/16 inch to all outside corners. For walls with rounded corners, place a framing square on the floor at the corner in line with where the 45-degree baseboard will sit and measure to the edge of the framing square. Mark each cut with a thin pencil line. Draw a small wing from the measured line in the direction the angle cut will go.

4. Cut the wood baseboard molding pieces. Set the baseboard molding on the miter saw and support with the back surface of the molding tight against the cut fence. For 90 degree wall angles, adjust the saw to 45 degrees. For 45-degree wall angles or two-step radius corners, set the saw to 22.5 degrees.

5. Glue all of the miter joints and finish nail the wood baseboard molding to the wall. Use a stud finder to locate all hidden studs and nail directly through the sheet rock to the studs.

6. Fill any nail holes or joint seams with wood filler and sand to a 120 and 220 grit smoothness. Apply silicone caulking to all wall and hard surface floor transitions.