| When it comes to sprucing up a room in your home | | | | same method if you're going to replace that. If you're |
| that's looking a little dated you have a few different | | | | not, move on to the next step. |
| options. You could paint the walls or put up wallpaper, | | | | 3. Paint or finish all your new molding before you |
| you could change the window dressings or flooring or | | | | install them. Yes, you're going to cut them and bang |
| you could move around the furniture and update the | | | | nails into them, but it's a lot easier to touch up six nail |
| light fixtures. One big part of room that many people | | | | holes than to try painting an eight foot section of |
| overlook is the baseboard molding that goes around | | | | baseboard after it's been installed against your floors. |
| the floor of a room. | | | | 4. After the finish has dried, measure your first length |
| Baseboards actually serve a practical purpose as well | | | | of wall in the room. Take those measurements and |
| as a decorative one. They're made to protest the | | | | mark off a fresh piece of baseboard molding with |
| lowest part of you walls from all sorts of dings and | | | | the exact measurements. If you have to cut for a |
| dents that might come from kicks or furniture moves | | | | corner on either end of the baseboard you'll have to |
| or even spills. Most baseboards are made of wood or | | | | pull out that miter saw and get practicing. Angled cuts |
| some sort of composite material that is almost | | | | for baseboards are usually not too difficult: you |
| always tougher than the sheetrock or plaster walls | | | | simply have to look at how the finished product will |
| they are protecting. | | | | look on the wall and figure out if it's a 45 degree |
| These days baseboard molding is as decorative as it | | | | angle cut from the left or from the right. I suggest |
| is protective. Standard baseboards are simple and | | | | you practice with some scrap molding initially. Once |
| only three or four inches high, but taller baseboards | | | | you get one or two corners cut you'll be a pro and |
| make a room look larger than it really is, add some | | | | you'll proceed quickly. |
| interest and depth to the area of the room where | | | | 5. Once you have the first piece cut you go attach it |
| the walls meet the floor and can even brighten up a | | | | to the wall with a nail gun or hammer and tack nails. |
| room if they are painted a light color or kept a light | | | | A nail gun is infinitely easier, so spring for one if it's in |
| natural wood color. | | | | your budget. Try to drive the nails into the |
| There are a few basic steps to installing new | | | | baseboards where there are studs behind the |
| baseboard molding around a room. This is not a | | | | sheetrock or plaster. That will keep the baseboards |
| difficult job, but it can be a little time consuming. You'll | | | | attached to walls tightly and help eliminate gaps. |
| need a hammer and tack nails or a nail gun, a small | | | | 6. Proceed around the room in a similar fashion, |
| crowbar or pry bar, some paint or finishing material, a | | | | measuring, cutting and then attaching each piece of |
| tape measure and a compound miter saw or a | | | | baseboard molding. When you are done you can go |
| handsaw and a miter box. Here are the general steps | | | | around and "clean up" the corners and nail holes. |
| you'll follow: | | | | 7. For corners that don't match or have a slight gap |
| 1. Remove the old baseboards in the room with a | | | | you can fill them with caulk and spread the caulk into |
| hammer and pry bar. Slide the pry bar between the | | | | the gap tightly with your finger. You can cover the |
| wall and baseboard and tap lightly until you have a | | | | nail holes with a little caulk or wood filler. Once the |
| little gap worked open. Repeat down the length of | | | | caulk or filler has dried you can touch up those areas |
| the baseboard, then begin again, tapping the pry bar | | | | with paint or stain to help match the shade and color. |
| a little further down and opening the gap a little more. | | | | That's about it! Once you get one room under your |
| As you repeat this process carefully push the prybar | | | | belt the other rooms in a house go pretty easily. |
| against the wall, pulling the baseboard away from the | | | | You'll be amazed at how a simple thing like replacing |
| wall. With some care you should get the old | | | | the baseboard molding in a room can really update |
| baseboard off. It's probably nailed on. | | | | the look and even the feel of a home. |
| 2. Remove the trim around the doorways with the | | | | |