Base molding creates a smooth, aesthetically pleasing transition where your wall meets the floor. Although it can be tricky to measure for base molding inside a closet, with the right tools and proper guidance you can easily accomplish the task for your closet or for your entire house. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Clear the closet of any scraps, tools or other hazards.
2. Write down the following labels: "back wall," "left wall," "right wall," "left side of door" and "right side of door." Measure the back wall of the closet using your measuring tape and write the measurement on your piece of paper under the label "back wall." To get a good measurement place the tape measure near the floor on the corner of the wall. Apply a little pressure to the the end of the tape, extend the rest of the tape to the opposite corner and bend it slightly around to the other wall. Take the measurement in the corner where the tape is bent.
3. Cut the base molding using the chop saw so that both the right and left sides of the molding are cut at 45-degree angles from the outside inwards. (The back of the base molding will be longer than the front.) Set the chop saw so that the blade is positioned at a 45-degree angle with the blade extending to the left. Cut 1/4 inch off the right side of the base molding.
4. Measure your molding to the length of the "left wall" measurement. Cut the left side of your molding at the measurement mark at a 45-degree angle as directed in Step 3. Adjust the blade on the chop saw so that it extends to the right at a 45-degree angle or turn the base molding upside down in the chop saw. Check to make sure the base molding fits along the back wall of your closet.
5. Take measurements for the "left wall" and "right wall" following the technique in Step 2. Measure from corner to corner--not the edge of the base molding you just put in. Cut the base molding for these walls using the same techniques listed in Steps 3 and 4.
6. Label the back of the molding pieces as you go along so you remember where they go. Place the molding pieces inside your closet making sure they fit snug between the two walls. If any pieces are too long, trim them to fit.
7. Measure the remaining parts of the closet around the door. Take a complete measurement of the length from corner to door jam. Write the measurements on a piece of paper labeled: "left side of door" and "right side of door." (These measurements should be taken from the perspective of someone inside the closet looking through the door out into the bedroom.)
8. Cut your remaining base molding pieces using a similar but altered technique as above. Cut the molding for the "left side of door" with a 45-degree angle on the left side and a straight cut on the right side. Cut the molding for the "right side of door" with a 45-degree angle on the right side and a straight cut on the left. (Each of these pieces should have one 45-degree angle and one straight cut.)
9. Place the two pieces of cut molding inside your closet so they fit snugly against the molding on the other two walls as well as the door jam.
Tags: base molding, 45-degree angle, right side, side door, left side, back wall, your closet
