How do you get that perfect edge for baseboards?

Question

We are currently cutting them at 45 degrees but when we go around corners the baseboards dont meet up as nice as id like them to, is there a trick to this?

Answer 1

Well first of all is most walls are not 90 Deg. The older the house the worse it can get.

Most base board systems have Corner Flaps that will cover up any gap between the two sides. Your local hardware/ home depot should have them. There are ones that fit over the corner, others have a full corner and you just connect the left and right straight pieces into the L shaped baseboard.


Or you could measure the angle of the wall with a protractor. They have ones at Home Depot for about 15 bucks. Then Take the angle and Divide it in half. That's the angle the Baseboard should be cut at.

If you have a chop Saw / Miter saw you can also get some scrap wood to test your angle. So you don't have to waste baseboard and if you get it wrong, then just re-cut the wood a bit more till you get it right.

Answer 2

Well, you may assume the corners are perfect 90 degrees... but most likely, they are not....Try adjusting the angle a degree or so, for each piece to get the perfect fit. There is a tool that lets you measure the angle of a corner....If you have very many corners to do, it would be worth investing in one. If you have only the one room of corners to do, then 'trial and error' will work.

Here is what I would suggest ... take some scrap trim.... and cut two matching pieces at 45, 46, 47, and 48 degrees.... make sure you mark them, on the back. Then, you can use these, to see what angle youve really got on the corner.... Any gaps in the trim, and you need to change the angle, one way or other, depending on whether the gap is at the front of the trim, or back. When you get it really really close... then you can use a wood putty that matches the color of your trim, if using a 'wood' colored trim.... or caulk, if you are using painted trim. (Bright white tub & tile caulk in the squeeze tub is very handy for this, and nail holes)

Have Fun!

Answer 3

The cornerbead for the sheetrock makes your outside corners greater than a 90 degree angle. The miter cut for your baseboard should be cut at 46 degrees. (both pieces) I bet this will help.
If your cornerbead has been installed really bad, you might want to try 47 degrees. Good luck.

Answer 4

Install the Base without a Mitre, then cut a 45 on the piece that meets, but cope along the Angle with a coping saw, so it follows the shape perfectly then butt it into the other uncut piece. Regardless of the out of square wall, it will fit perfectly.

Answer 5

After you do the above suggestions about the angle. If it is a very slight looking line of a gap, you can sand it. Use some sandpaper, about 180 grit or close, and lightly sand it. It will fill in with shavings, and will look great after painting. This is if the gap is too small for putty. Avoid using caulk, it won't look good.

Answer 6

Inside corners need to be coped using a special saw made just for this purpose. It looks much more difficult than what it actually is. Trying to explain the technique is very difficult but easy enough to follow if you use diagrams from a woodworking book or go on line and search for sights offering "how to tips" on coping molding or trim.

Answer 7

would you like to have a guy for the summer that you could call and get your feet done when you want. Like just step and walk on his stomach like a doormat and sit there and get your feet cleaned and massaged anytime. Let me know if you would be interested. I really do this for females!

Answer 8

when mine don't match up completely, I'd fill in the space with putty or spackling, but I was also painting. if you aren't painting, then I dunno. usually they match.