Use This Cheat Sheet To Cut Perfect Baseboard Corners - Lifehacker

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Use this Cheat Sheet to Cut Perfect Baseboard Corners Timothy Dahl Timothy Dahl Editorial Author Experience Areas of Expertise Read Full Bio August 26, 2019 Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google Use this Cheat Sheet to Cut Perfect Baseboard Corners

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Installing baseboards in your home is a relatively straightforward way to spruce the place up a bit. And while the general process is easy enough for a do-it-yourself project, cutting the baseboards can be tricky. Here’s a cheat sheet to help you miter cut your baseboards, depending on the corner type you need.

The most common baseboard corner is an inside 90 degree corner, and the easiest way to install baseboards to fit this corner is to cut two pieces of the baseboard at the edges and at an angle so they fit together when installed. This is called a miter joint.

The easiest way to cut taller baseboard miter joints is with a compound miter saw which allows you lay the baseboards flat to adjust the bevel angle. There are three things you need to know before cutting:

First, what side of the piece are you cutting from? Left or right?
Second, which side of the baseboard is longer when the cut is finished? On an inside corner the back is longer and on an outside corner the front is longer.
Lastly, what is your cut angle?

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Here’s a screenshot of the miter angle cheat sheet as seen in the video:

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Watch the video for the full cheat sheet as well as tips on installing baseboards.

This story was originally published on 12/23/14 and was updated on 8/25/19 to provide more thorough and current information.

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Timothy Dahl Read Timothy's full bio More by Timothy Home & Garden The Essential Tools Everyone Should Have at Home May 7, 2021 An overhead photo of basic tools (Allen wrenches, adjustable wrenches, screwdrivers, pliers, and a socket wrench) on a wooden surface.