Helper installing trim

These saws have handles that release the saw bed and allow you to turn it to the appropriate angle. Once you lock the bed back into place, you can proceed with your cut as normal. A board to the left of the saw with a negative degree cut will result in a miter for an inside corner, while a positive degree cut is meant for an outside corner.

When it comes time to install trim around the corners of your room or walls longer than the typical run of trim, use these three joints. With any of these joints, you may still find a slight gap that requires additional work.

Placing shims between the baseboard and the wall is a great way to close a small gap in an inside corner. For an outside corner, gluing and nailing through the joint before nailing to the wall will provide the best long-term results.

Painting crown molding on the wall is likely to leave you sore from raising your arms overhead for hours. Similarly, painting baseboards while resting your knees on the hard flooring is the pits. Painting before installing trim can be a major energy and time saver, provided you have the space to do it.

For the best results, purchase pre-primed boards whenever possible. Lay trim boards across a pair of sawhorses. Use a brush, roller, sprayer, or some combination of all three to paint your boards before your trim installation begins. Do this for two to three coats to achieve a great finish.

Apply a small amount of the filler with the tip of your finger and to each nail hole. Word to the wise, give yourself plenty of overage. The lumber yard also delivered for a fee , which, given the size of my project, was enormously helpful. I drew every last piece of trim on my wall before making any cuts or nailing anything in place.

I measured from the floor to the top of my chair rail molding, making a mark on the wall about every 18 inches. I then used my level to draw a straight horizontal line connecting all the marks so I would know exactly where to place the trim.

Same thing for shadow boxes. I measured then marked where they would go and used my level to draw straight lines connecting all the markings. Also, when I drew the lines, I measured them right then and wrote the measurements on the walls I double-checked the measurements before cutting any wood. The shelves and mantel around the fireplace in the family room were built by a carpenter, not me.

I did every last bit of the job entirely by myself. I had a general contractor come by to take a look at all of the trim work I did. Thank you so much for sharing your tips and your gorgeous home with us, Jenny! Originally published Jenny enjoys making life more beautiful in the details. For her, there's nothing more satisfying than figuring out how to get it done DIY-style!

She dabbles in a little bit of everything. We hired a contractor to do it in our DR yrs ago in a home we lived in, but plan to do it ourselves now in our new home…BUT have not been able to find the lumber to make the picture frames. We looked Home Depot and a lumber store. Plz advise… Thank u, Diane. Hi Diane, You might try calling around if you have a local woodshop, or a local frame maker….

Best of luck finding what you need! Did you glue the vertical pieces in the shadow boxes or just nail? If just nailed, are you worried they will come off the walls? Also if you just nailed, did you just nail straight in or on angles? This is so beautiful and inspiring! Then, you will need to bend the trim slightly to get it to fit into the other corner. This will result in the trim becoming slightly bowed in the center, but giving it a little slap will snap it right into place. If you want to learn more helpful hints about how to install baseboard trim, visit FinishCarpentryHelp.

Here, you will be able to access free information and helpful tips on how to install baseboard trim, as well as other information about installing baseboard trim such as how to select the right wood for the job and how to tackle tougher installation jobs.