Base molding - angle cuts?

Question

1. If I know that a room isn't square by using a carpenters square how do I determine what the angle is?

2. How do I determine what angles to cut base molding

Thanks

Answer 1

"Carp" has it right, the proper way to install ANY base trim ( W/ profile meaning it is not just flat trim) is to cope them together.
A little practice will produce a superior job compared to mitering.
Check out that link that Carp provided, it shows how to cope.

Answer 2

There is a way around having to find the angles of a slightly out of square joint in most common base mouldings. It's another story if the room is more than four sided, however.
What we do is to run one side square to the wall without a miter/angle into the corner. To join, cut a reverse 45 degree cut (long point against the wall) on the joining piece. Take a coping saw, a necessary tool for trim installers, and back cut the angled end following the line along the outside of the cut. You have to hold the piece firmly and use the saw quickly but you'll find it a wonderful trick, and it's been done that way since Ante Bellum times, at least. The joint will close up to a hairs breadth if you're pretty handy but even a rookie can make a much better joint than trying to miter the two pieces together.

Answer 3

Hope you are using a table saw or a radial arm saw - the easiest is to cut your mouldings at a 45 degree angle - that is your walls are sort of 90 deg. as is in most houses. Once you have installed the mouldings and if there is a slight gap between the joints you could buy whats called "gap filler" which is very easy to apply and is water washable if you make a mess - once dry you could paint over it and would not notice the joint. On the other hand you can buy a gismo at a hardware store that determines at what angle your walls are - devide the angle by two to get your cutting angle - good luck - but the gap filler will really come in handy

Answer 4

the tool you are missing is a protractor ( looks like a small square with one movable arm and a protractor scale etched in ) yes also called an angle finder - some of the others are descibing an 'angle finder' with no numbers - just a hinged peice that you can lock into place and transfer the angle - they are easy to bump and mess up and don't give you the angle to dial into a miter saw ( better than nothing but easy to make so don't buy one make one )

this is hard to describe but there is a method of cutting one piece at 45 degrees and then flipping it over and transferring the angle to the other piece ( while they are both against the wall - i read a similar description and figured it out through trial and error - wish you luck ! )

Answer 5

you can find the angle with an adjustable square. You can buy one at any building supply store such as Lowes or Home depot.

I probally don't have the correct name for the tool. Some people call them a protractor, angle finder, or evan a compass.

Any way put it in the corner you are trying to measure and read the tool. I would take a measurement from two or three different hieghts in cast the wall isn't plumb either

Answer 6

Try using a card board or a paper to determine the exact cut by cutting it roughly and checking if it is accurate and once you have created teh right matching cut cut the molding accordingly. Otherwise, go to a book store and buy a tool which will allow you to determine the angles.

Answer 7

you can pick up an angle finder at one of the home improvement stores for a couple bucks. its a small item about the size of a tri-square. some have the degrees printed on them, others you just have to transfer the angle to a table/miter saw scale. very easy to use, just place it in/around corner tighten the little screw.

Answer 8

Go to a major hardware store re. Lowes, Home Depot or True Value or what is major in your part of the country. I can't remember the name of the finish carpenters tool that measures angles however, if you explain to them as you presented your question to us to a knowledgeable person he should be able to direct you to the correct tool for abnormal angles. It is fairly inexpensive.

Answer 9

I doubt that if you cut the base molding at 90 deg. for the corners you would ever notice the difference. You could also "cope" the molding, that method hides abnormalities well.

Answer 10

use a coping saw and cope the joints. the situation you describe is why coping the joints is prefered. Even if it were perfectly square it's bound to move and reveal a gap some time in the future.