If you are remodeling your home, and installing baseboards is on your list of things to do, we have some tips and tricks to help you get it done right and as quickly as possible. Before installing new baseboards, it is important not only are the old baseboards removed, but all nails, screws, and staples be removed as well. Once the old baseboards are removed, it is a perfect time to use a vacuum cleaner and clean up any excess dust or dirt that has built up over the years.

If you’re planning on painting your baseboards, painting them before they  are installed is a great way to save time. Some of the tools you need for installing baseboard are as follows: a chop saw, hammer and nails, or nail gun, tape measure, pencil, wood filler, caulking, and paint.

When cutting baseboards, you have four main angles that you will be cutting. Most common rooms only use a flat cut, or an inside 45° angle cut. More complex rooms will use an outside 45° angle cut, or an outside 22 1/2° angle cut. We will touch on the basics of installing baseboards, using inside 45° angle cuts, flat cuts and outside 45° angle cuts.

Now that you have your materials, and your tools set up, begin by measuring each wall one at a time. If the baseboard is going into an inside corner where it will meet another baseboard, this cut will be called an inside cut. Here is an example of how you could write down an inside cut so that when you go out to the saw to make your cut, you would not be confused. First, always measure from left to right. If the left side of the baseboard is going into an inside corner, and the right side of the baseboard will be hitting up against a door trim, this is how you would write that measurement down on a piece of paper if the measurement was 68 inches.

I – F 68″

The I. stands for inside, while the F. stands for flat. You will make your first cut on your baseboard at a 45° angle, all the way to the left side of the baseboard. Do this by rotating your chop saw to the correct angle, stand the baseboard up right along the fence of the chop saw, ( good side facing you) and cut. Now you will measure from the furthest point of your 45° angle cut, 68 inches and put a mark. Now you will cut a flat cut on that Mark and the piece is ready to install.

Now if you have an inside cut, to inside cut, this is how you will write it down.

I – I 68″

Once again, measuring from left to right, the I stands for inside, and the measurement is the 68 inches. To make this cut, using the chop saw again, start with your left cut and cut a 45° angle with the baseboards standing upright against the fence of the chop saw. Then measuring from the furthest point of your 45° angle cut, measure 68 inches and put a mark on your baseboard on the upper back side. Sliding your baseboard down to the opposite side of the chop saw, and rotating your saw to the opposite 45° angle mark, cut your baseboard on the you made on your baseboard, with the 45° angle cutting from the mark, inward.

Now moving on to the final type of cut, which is the outside 45° angle cut. So in this next example we are going to go from a flat cut to an outside 45° angle cut. So let’s say on the left side it is a flat cut up against a door jam or door trim. You will measure from the door trim to the outside corner in your room. This is how it will look on paper.

F – O 68″

The F. again stands for flat, and the O stands for outside. So taking a piece of baseboard out to the chop saw, starting with the left side, cut your flat cut first. Now measure from your flat cut 68 inches and put a mark on the back upper side of the baseboard. Putting the chop saw a 45° angle, cut on the mark away from your flat cut. Your baseboard is now ready to install. Now that you know how to mark correctly your baseboards for installation, it is a good idea to practice on a few pieces of scrap base and making sure that your angles matchup.

All that is left to do now, is to physically put the baseboards in place and either use a hammer and nail to install them, or use a pneumatic nail gun. Go back and fill in all holes, gaps, and gouges with wood filler. Caulk along the top of the baseboards and in the inside corners, allow to dry and paint.