Installing Floor Molding

Once the paint has dried it s time to install the molding.

Installing floor molding.

Lengths of scrap baseboard and put 45 degree angles on the ends. Caulk along the top edge and corner edges and nail holes. When installing trim such as baseboard and crown molding master craftspeople use this method and you can too. Install shoe molding and cap molding if necessary.

Nail the floor trim to the studs and then tack the braces to the trim with 1 in brads. Nail it at an angle so that the nail goes downward into the wood. You ll save time and protect your knees if you completely finish baseboard trim pieces before installing it on the walls. The builders knew the advantages of combining small wood moldings.

Employ the same methods for outside and inside corners scarf and butt joints on the moulding. Tack the shoe molding down into the floor with pin nails. Set a 4 foot level on the floor next to the wall to see if the floor is level. If you see some cut a few braces from 4 to 6 in.

When you get to an outside corner set the first piece to that it extends past the outside corner. Install shoe or cap moulding if using. First hold the base molding against the wall after you cut it to length and look for gaps. If not move the level across the floor to find its lowest point.

Protect your workplace floor with drop cloths move in a pair of sawhorses and set your trim pieces in place so you can stain prime and or paint them all at one time. Continue to measure cut and install the baseboard molding around the room. Tack the cap molding into studs wherever possible. Mark it where it will meet the other piece of the outside corner by setting your try square or combination square against the surface of the wall it meets.

In addition to allowing endless possibilities for customization smaller moldings are easier to cut and install than large moldings and allow more flexibility on wavy or irregular walls. Then apply construction adhesive at the top and bottom. Plus you can often achieve a great effect for less money by combining small wood moldings. The nails won t hold if they re driven straight into the polystyrene molding.

Coped molding gives the tightest fit best a. Cut the base shoe a quarter round molding that goes at the bottom of the base molding to length and attach it with a finish nailer.