Do It Yourself Renovation: How to Install Baseboards in Your Home

Baseboard installation is usually the last project of floor installations in a new home.  Baseboards are replaced as the previous ones are removed in older homes.

Selecting the right baseboard for the home is often a demanding task. Often, people use wider baseboards for a home with antique furniture and hardwood flooring, and narrow baseboards for a contemporary home.

Preparing to Install Baseboards

Prior to installing the baseboard, consider the nailing pattern of the baseboards onto the wall.  Since the wall studs are framed at 16 inches on centers, cut the baseboards to the longest length that matches the 16 increments of that length. (e.g. 8 feet, 12 feet...)  For narrow baseboards, the rule doesn't matter as much.  The baseboard joints are cut to scarf type joints on a straight run.

Baseboards are cut with a backsaw and a mitre box, but many homeowners are using power mitre saws to do the job.  That way, the joint cuts are measured and cut with less effort - however, the power saw's performance is limited at the final cut of the cope joint.

Cutting and Installing the Baseboards

To start installing the baseboards, find a straight long run of a wall, take a measurement then make a straight cut (90 degrees) on one end of first baseboard and a 45 degree mitre cut on the opposite end.  The 45 degree angle cut must face the finish side of the baseboard.  Butt the square end towards end of floor/wall and nail according to nailing pattern described earlier.

The next angle cut on the second baseboard piece must overlap the first baseboard joint (45 degree angle mitre cut) in a parallel fit:  the 45 degree mitre cut is in the reverse order of the first 45 degree mitre cut, but when placed together they fit well.  The other end cut of the second baseboard is cut the same as the first baseboard - 45 degree mitre cut. 

Repeat the pattern and install around the perimeter of the home. (Hint: Sometimes it is better to use butt joints on the opposite ends of the baseboards for the long walls and cope the inside corner joints of the short walls.  On some baseboard styles, the inside angle cut is splayed rather than a cope joint cut.)

For the inside corner, use a cope joint and a 45 degree mitre cut on the outside corner.  Cut one of the inside corner baseboards to a cope type joint (the other piece, a butt joint, fits snug against the wall).  Cut the cope joint baseboard to a 45 degree mitre angle.  The cut should angle towards the finished face of the baseboard.  Hold the coping saw at about 90 degrees to the baseboard and cut along the contour of the mitre cut.  The finish cut should fit snug against the other piece.  Fine tune the cut for accuracy if needed.

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