Baseboards are used to cover the joints where the walls and the floor meet. This is thus a necessary finishing touch for a perfect room. Baseboard installation calls for the expertise of a master craftsman. Some of the essential requirements in baseboard installation are:
• Nail set or punch
• Finish hammer
• Chisel
• Tape measure
• Sharp pencil or pen
• 25 ft or longer air line
• Compressor
• Miter saw
• Wood glue
• Caulking gun
• Blue painters tape
Here is a detailed overview of baseboard installation:
• The perimeter of the room needs to be measured so as to determine the amount of material to be required. It is better to buy some additional trims so that are some scrap ends to cater to those couple of inevitable mistakes that occur during measurements and cutting.
• Then it is important to prime and sand. If the materials are primed, the sanding must be done prior to baseboard installation. It saves a lot of time and effort. If eth materials happen to be bare wood ones, it is better to stain or paint them with primer, sand them after they have dried up and then go for baseboard installation.
• The pieces must be measured and cut for a perfect fit. The miter joints must be well-cut. For this, a power miter saw works better than a miter box or hand saw. For odd-angle corners, the scrap material can be used on a trial-and-error basis.
• The baseboard now must be nailed with finishing nails. A stud finder can help to locate the appropriate wall studs. In order to sink the nail below the surface, a nail gun should be used. The nail-holes must be then filled with putty, allowed to dry and sanded.
• The baseboard installation gets completed with the application of the finishing coat. It can be a gloss or a semi-gloss paint or varnish and must never cross the finishing material. A masking tape can ascertain the separation.
• It is advisable to install the trims around the doors prior to the baseboard installation.
• Shoe moldings are better attached to the floors to ensure that the gaps do not open up later. If the walls happen to be extremely uneven, the gap between the walls and the baseboard can be done up with caulk and then painted in accordance with the wall color.
• A Brad Nailer is an effective tool for the trim cuts in baseboard installation.
Last but not the least, patience, apart from expertise ensures the success of a perfect baseboard installation.
