While the ideal scenario for installing baseboards is with a perfectly level floor, many rooms have sloped floors. In this case, is it still possible to properly install your baseboards, and if so, how?
Here are the steps to install baseboards on a sloped floor:
- Measure the walls of your room.
- Gather the materials needed to install the baseboards.
- Cut the baseboards to size after measuring.
- Level the baseboards and the floor.
- Mark your baseboards.
- Attach the baseboards to your wall.
- Install the shoe molding.
- Add some final touches.
Below, I will give you a more detailed overview of each of these steps and additional tips you can use to install your baseboards as smoothly as possible.
Contents
1. Measure the walls of your room
Before you attach the baseboards, you first need to measure the perimeter of the room with a tape measure. This measurement will greatly help when purchasing the correct amount of materials.
Home Depot recommends measuring each wall in the room at least twice to ensure accurate measurements. It’s also a good idea to add a few extra units to your overall measurement, especially if you are installing baseboards for the first time.
2. Gather the materials needed to install the baseboards
Once you have the exact measurements for your room, you can proceed with purchasing and assembling the necessary materials and tools.
Ideally, you should have the following items on hand before starting the installation:
- Baseboard molding
- A tape measure
- A miter saw
- A chalk reel
- A pencil and compass
- Nails
- A circular saw
- A nail gun or hammer
- Safety glasses
- A caulking gun
Depending on your preference, if you are buying pre-finished baseboards, you may also want to purchase paint and primer.
3. Cut the baseboards to size after measuring
Next, measure your baseboards and then cut them to size for each wall. I highly recommend using a miter saw as the most effective and convenient option for cutting.
Boards that meet corners during installation should be cut slightly longer than the other baseboards. You will later make additional cuts for these boards to create baseboard joints.
After cutting the boards, you will need to prime and paint them if they are unfinished. The next step is to find the wall studs and mark them for later.
4. Level the baseboards and the floor
Since you are working with a sloped floor, some additional work is required to make the baseboards, walls, and floor as level as possible.
Dry Pro Systems explains that this often leads to noticeable gaps in baseboard joints due to uneven floors. Alternatively, a sloped floor can cause the baseboard to crack or break due to uneven pressure, so leveling is an essential preventative step.
First, determine where the lowest point in the room is and nail a spare piece of baseboard to that point. Next, use this piece of baseboard as a reference point and make a series of horizontal pencil marks on the walls.
Once you have made your marks, you can use your chalk reel to create a chalk line around the room to indicate the top edge of the baseboards.
5. Mark your baseboards
Attaching baseboards on a sloped floor requires scribing (an easy way to modify your baseboards to match the uneven surface of the floor.)
The first step of scribing can be done with a pencil and compass, as described by the Chicago Tribune. You use these tools to mark the shape of the floor and wall along the baseboard.
Now that you have marked your baseboard with the pencil, use a circular saw to cut along the pencil line.
If the baseboard is still not completely level after trimming (which you can check by seeing if the baseboard aligns properly with the chalk line created earlier), it’s a good idea to use some sandpaper to level it out a bit.
6. Attach the baseboards to your wall
After the scribing process, attaching the baseboards to the walls of the room is the next (and most important) step.
Using either a brad nailer or hammer, you will need to nail the baseboards in place, according to Lowe’s. When attaching baseboards at a wall corner, use two boards and cut them at a 45-degree angle. This angle forms an inside corner joint.
On the other hand, attaching two boards along a straight line is called a butt joint and also requires the boards to be cut at a 45-degree angle.
If you are attaching a baseboard that meets a door frame (a miter joint), you should cut the angle at 90 degrees instead.
7. Install the shoe molding
While not always necessary with flat or even floors and walls, shoe molding (which you may know as quarter-round) is incredibly useful for a sloped floor. This method helps to fill gaps and uneven attachments.
The shoe molding follows the same corner and door frame angles as the baseboard attachment process described above. Keep in mind the angles, though some adjustments may be needed when working with an older wall that doesn’t have the proper square shape.
8. Add some final touches
Finally, you may notice some gaps in the baseboard, even after using leveling, scribing, and shoe molding to prevent them.
Fortunately, you can close these gaps with some simple finishing touches. Most importantly, I highly recommend sealing the gaps. Caulking will likely prove useful for baseboards in corners and the top edge of each of the boards.
After caulking the gaps, applying a final coat of paint can also help smooth out any visible imperfections and complete the look.
Final Thoughts
Installing baseboards on a sloped floor may seem like an intimidating process. However, with the right tools and methods (especially leveling, scribing, and attaching), this installation can be a quick and straightforward experience.
One final tip I can offer is to plan the installation before you start!
Planning each step will help you save on material costs and is safer and less likely to result in gaps and blemishes. Purchasing or renting the right hardware while also taking accurate measurements is a surefire way to reduce sources of error and will likely save you extra work later on.