Tools and Materials

• Before you start, make sure you have the right size baseboards and all the tools necessary. Many different widths and styles are available to choose from, all of which will give the room a different look. Select which one you want before installing them because each time you decide differently will cost you time and money. You will also need a tape measure, paint, miter saw or box, square and a pencil.
  
  

Preparing the Space

• When hanging baseboard, determine what kind of flooring is (or will be) in the room. If a wood or tile floor is down, the baseboards can be placed directly on the floor. If carpet is down, you will want to leave at least ¼ inch above the floor line so the carpet will be able to fit underneath the baseboard. If you are installing your carpet second, cut some ¼ inch shims and place them under the baseboards before you nail them into the wall. You should paint your baseboards before you install them because this will help save you from a mess later. Painting them while they are on the wall is extremely difficult and may cause paint to get on surfaces you don't want it to.
  
  

Installation Tips

• When installing baseboards, you should use one piece to cover the length of one wall. Not only will this reduce the amount of cuts you have to make, it will also keep you from having to cover a seam in the middle of the room, providing a much more finished look. You will be cutting your pieces at 45 degree angles in order to join them at the corners. Make sure you cut them the right direction, with the side against the wall being longer for inside corners and the side away from the wall being longer for outside corners. Also, use the thinnest nails possible to attach them, and nail them in approximately every 16 inches along the board. Paint over the nails using the same color you painted the baseboards to mask them.