How to Cut Baseboard Outside Corners
Written by Milan Jara on 25th Nov 2022
Baseboard corners complete the neat finish of a superb-looking baseboard. Learn how to cut baseboard outside corners and complement your home makeover.
Baseboard corner blocks give any area elegance and refinement. Essentially, these pieces are ornamental accents in the corners of any room where the baseboards of two adjoining corners meet. In addition to contributing to the room's general design, they provide a style that complements the crown molding. They also make it easier to align your intersecting baseboards attractively.
You’ll need the following tools when cutting the baseboards:
- Tape measure
- Corner piece for a baseboard
- Chisel, scraper, and other cleaning tools (as needed)
- Nail gun
- 2.2-inch finishing nails
- Paint
- Sandpaper
- Miter saw (optional)
How Do You Cut the Outside Baseboard Corner Blocks?
Once you have the material, you can proceed with cutting outside corners. Before commencing cutting, you need to choose an elegant baseboard. Here's how to select a baseboard for your living area and the steps to cutting it using a miter saw. If you do not have a miter saw, you can use a miter box.
1. Measure the Length of Your Walls
The first step is to compile all your measurements and write them down on paper to sketch out the room. You could do this ahead of time to ensure that you get the correct number of baseboards. However, do things carefully while obtaining your cutting measurements.
Measure the length of each baseboard piece you need to cut using a tape measure to get the length from corner to corner along the base of the wall. Remember, measure each baseboard piece twice, and cut once to ensure accuracy and save time. As a little DIY tip, check out how to measure baseboards correctly for your woodworking job.
2. Mark the Direction of the Cut and Rough Cut
Next, trim each baseboard trim piece to length. Cut about two inches more than you need for each length. Leaving excess material is beneficial since you can always take more off. This is particularly crucial with outside edges. You can make the rough cuts by setting the miter and bevel to 90 degrees and cutting straight.
Next, outline each board's end with a pencil line at a 45 degree angle to ensure that you correctly cut each corner angle for the miter joint. To accomplish this, set each component where it will be placed in the room and make the mark.
However, after some practice, you may be able to complete this step by consulting the drawing made of the room. This exercise aims to teach you how to properly position each trim piece and prevent cutting errors to cut it at a more precise angle.
3. Set the Saw Angle
When cutting baseboard, measuring the corner using a protractor is usually worthwhile to acquire an accurate measurement when establishing the angle for each corner. Depending on the miter saw's cutting capability and the length of your baseboards, you will need to adjust the curve on the saw. You can position the baseboard against the fence in one of two ways, depending on how it will fit: either standing up against the fence or lying on the bed with its bottom against the fence.
However, you will need to alter the miter angle if the urethane baseboard is leaning against the fence. Adjust the bevel if the baseboard isn't lying flat against the bed.
4. Start Cutting Your First Baseboard
Once your saw is ready, start cutting.
Put on your goggles and earplugs. Position the baseboard trim on the saw table with its face toward the wall. Consider your floor, the saw table, and the wall you will fit the baseboard against to be the saw fence.
If you have clamps, fasten the baseboard; if not, hold the end firmly with one hand. Put the blade in place using the pencil mark you previously created. Turn on your saw, but don't start cutting until it's completely switched on, or you run the danger of chipping the baseboard.
To cut through the baseboard, gently lower the blade while doing so. No need to push hard; moderate force should work.
5. Trim the Cut Edges
The edges may be rougher than you'd prefer. PVC or plastic-based boards may melt from the heat of the saw, and wooden baseboards may splinter.
Thankfully, it's simple to remove these extra bits for a clean baseboard. Wait until it has cooled before touching it with your bare hands. Use your hand sander to get the ultra-smooth finish you desire. Carry out the same procedure on the adjacent piece to create the baseboard corner.
6. Mark the Straight Cuts
Straight cuts demand a different strategy. These components will fit up against any obstacles, such as door moldings.
Use your tape measure to determine how far the door molding is from the wall. The bevel and miter cut should be 90 degrees each. Turn it on, and make a cross-cut by sawing straight through to the baseboard. Repeat the procedures in steps 4 and 5 for all the other baseboards.
7. Find the Stud and Attach the Baseboards
Grab your stud finder and look inside the wall for studs, typically located around 16 inches apart. Bear in mind that studs are present in every corner. After that, mark each stud's location with painter's tape. Then, attach your baseboards to the wall and paint them your preferred color.
What Are the Advantages of Baseboard Corner Blocks?
Baseboard corner pieces like inside or outside corner crown molding and couplings are comparatively easy to install. The two outer sides of the baseboards might come together ideally if you make exact cuts, but even little errors give the baseboards a shoddy appearance. In short, baseboard corner blocks eliminate the necessity of mitering the corners of the baseboards.
Additionally, several homeowners and interior designers utilize baseboard corner blocks to solve this issue. By doing away with angles, corner blocks eliminate the problem of baseboards fitting flush to one another. You may purchase them at most hardware and home improvement stores, paint them to fit the style of the space, or paint them a different shade to create more visual interest.
Summary
As you can see, using a miter saw to cut baseboard corners is much simpler than you might have anticipated. Like other home improvement tasks, you need a positive attitude, a little skill, and the right tools and guidance to install baseboard molding.
