ᐅ Is it feasible for a layperson to install baseboards themselves?

Created on: 26 Aug 2020 21:36
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kati1337
Hello,
we have hired a painter for the entire house, including wallpapering and painting. I have now asked what he would charge for the baseboards but haven’t received a price yet.
Is it something a layperson could realistically do themselves? A miter box and a Japanese saw can be bought for about €70 (around $75). On Amazon, there are complete kits with baseboards and corner blocks available for just under €200 (about $215), although I haven’t calculated if the length would be enough. However, a friend mentioned that installing baseboards is much more difficult than it seems at first glance. Especially cutting for the corners would be a really tough job.
Do you have any experience with this? I’m not extremely perfectionistic, but it should look neat. Would you recommend letting a professional handle it, or is it something one can try doing oneself?
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Nordlys
26 Aug 2020 22:23
Jigsaw with 45-degree guide; small inaccuracies are concealed by white acrylic.
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pagoni2020
26 Aug 2020 22:24
kati1337 schrieb:

We were thinking of using MDF moldings like these (widely available online) that look white but aren’t real wood. I like the Hamburger or Altberliner profile best. For wet rooms, I assume we would need to buy special moldings?

If you have a local sawmill that you’re on good terms with, you can also have such moldings cut from MDF panels and have the edges slightly finished. That’s how I did it once. However, it only pays off for larger quantities.
An electric miter saw isn’t too expensive and can often be useful around the house anyway.
You can practice with it easily and gain experience quickly. And if you measure wrong once, it’s not a big deal.
Pinky030126 Aug 2020 22:37
We are getting MDF moldings that are also suitable for wet rooms. As long as they are not completely submerged in water, I’m not too worried.
It gets tricky if the room corner isn’t exactly 90 degrees or if the walls aren’t perfectly straight. Have you thought about how you want to install the moldings? For nails, you need the right tool; I’m not sure about clips. If I remember correctly, we once glued them. There is a kind of white adhesive tape that can also compensate for uneven surfaces.
Tolentino26 Aug 2020 22:51
Pinky0301 schrieb:

Have you thought about how you want to install the moldings? For nails, you need the right tool; I’m not sure about clips.

Glue them and fill gaps with acrylic, as already mentioned here.
kati133726 Aug 2020 22:53
Yes, I also thought that gluing would be the easiest method. Since we're on the topic, is mounting tape better, or is it preferable to use liquid adhesive?
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Bookstar
26 Aug 2020 23:23
There is nothing easier. But please do not use adhesive! Use clips and screw them into the wall. The screed will settle, and then you can easily make adjustments.