How to Install Inside Baseboard Moulding

Imagine how beautiful and finished your room would look with new baseboard moulding. It provides a clean line between your flooring and walls, and installing it requires but a few basic tools, careful measurement and an eye for detail. There are a variety of styles to choose from including "colonial" and "ranch," and a variety of heights typically ranging from 2 ¾ inch to 4 ¼ inch. If you are interested in saving a little time, opt for a pre-finished product.

• 1

  Carefully measure the length of each wall that will be covered by the baseboard moulding.

• 2

  Mark each piece of moulding with the corresponding wall length measurements.

• 3

  Using the miter box, make straight cuts for the ends of the baseboard that will butt up against doorway trim, and angled 45 degree cuts on the ends of the pieces that will be installed in corners. Imagine how the pieces will fit together along the wall to determine which direction the 45 degree cut should be made, since inside and outside corners each require different 45 degree cuts.

• 4

  If the wall involved is longer than the moulding, splice two pieces together by making a 45 degree cut in each piece. Take care to have the splice match up with a wall stud so both pieces can be nailed to it.

• 5

  Lightly sand any rough edges. Paint or varnish each piece according to manufacturer's instructions and allow it to dry before installing.

• 6

  Using the stud finder, locate the studs behind each wall and mark their location lightly with a pencil.

• 7

  Install each piece of baseboard moulding by pressing it against the wall and pounding one to two finishing nails into it at each stud. For molding that is less than 4 inches tall, one nail inserted near the center should suffice. For taller moulding, use a nail roughly ¾ of an inch from the bottom and another about 1 inch from the top. Your goal is for the moulding to have good contact with the wall while avoiding splintering.