How to Cut a Curved Baseboard Corner

  • 1-3 hours
  • Intermediate
  • 10-40
What You'll Need
Measuring tape
Pencil
Baseboard trim material (e.g. plywood)
Table saw
Baseboard trim
Hammer and nails
Wood glue
Sander or sandpaper
Caulk
Putty knife
What You'll Need
Measuring tape
Pencil
Baseboard trim material (e.g. plywood)
Table saw
Baseboard trim
Hammer and nails
Wood glue
Sander or sandpaper
Caulk
Putty knife

A baseboard corner may be cut at an angle, or it may be rounded. A baseboard or floor molding is used to protect the wall, covering the joint of the wall and the floor. However, the baseboard is also be a part of your home décor. If you prefer curved corners, or your walls have rounded corners, you should learn how to cut the baseboard corners properly. While a perfectly round baseboard corner is very difficult to obtain, you may get a corner that is very close to being round.

Step 1 – Measure the Walls

Measure the length of the walls that require baseboards. If there is old baseboard installed, you will need to get rid it.

Step 2 – Cut 2 Pieces of Baseboard

Get the baseboard trim material. This may be plywood or medium-density-grade (MDF) fiber board, which is a less expensive option. Measure these boards and mark them, so that you know where to cut. Cut the boards so that they cover the length of entire wall, minus the rounded part at the corner. Use a table saw to cut the boards to size.

Step 3 – Cut a Smaller Piece for the Corner

You need a smaller piece to fit between the 2 previously cut baseboards. The piece should be cut from the same material, and it will be 1 to 2 inches in size, depending on how rounded the corners of your walls are. Make sure that you cut the piece at an angle of 22.5 degrees at both ends. You can use a sander or sandpaper to make the edges of the baseboard pieces smoother.

Step 4 – Put Together the Baseboard Pieces

Put the 2 larger baseboard pieces along the base of the wall, and then place in the smaller piece between these, right at the corner of the wall. The pieces will form an octagonal shape. While the corner will not be entirely rounded, it will look like it once you finish it.

Step 5 – Fasten Baseboards

Fasten the baseboards to the walls, using nails every 4 inches. You may need someone to help you hold the pieces while you insert the nails. If you don’t have a working partner, glue the pieces to the wall, and after the glue is dry, hammer in the nails.

Step 6 – Fill Gaps with Caulk

Use caulk to fill any gaps remaining where the wooden pieces meet.

Opt for water based acrylic caulk, which is easier to shape than silicone caulk. Generously apply caulk and shape it with a putty knife, so that you obtain a rounded corner. The caulk may shrink, so apply additional caulk the following day. If you choose foam caulk, the shrinkage will be minimal.

Smooth out the area using fine grit sandpaper.

Paint the baseboards if needed, but make sure to use tape on the wall above the baseboard, for protection. Use primer prior to applying the paint, to ensure that the color will adhere to the surface.

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