ᐅ Is it feasible for a layperson to install baseboards themselves?
Created on: 26 Aug 2020 21:36
K
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?
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?
P
pagoni20205 Sep 2020 11:14Alessandro schrieb:
It would be interesting to know what actual cost savings you get from doing the work yourself.
For my 200sqm (2,150 sq ft) house, the labor cost for the tradespeople was just 400 Euro. Certainly, this amount doesn’t make a big difference in the total house construction cost. Still, it’s €400, and even Scrooge McDuck had to start small.
For our first house, I worked on it for years and fiddled around, starting out with zero knowledge and no tools at all. Today I know that, in terms of calculations, I invested a lot of time, bruises, and blue fingertips for free, but looking back I wouldn’t want to miss any of it. Now I can handle quite a few tasks myself or at least better assess their condition because I have gone through the entire process physically.
I also understand that nowadays this is becoming less common, but I believe that especially with tasks like installing moldings and others, you can learn how to handle tools without committing serious building mistakes; at worst, you might need to buy a few meters (feet) more material. Sooner or later, you will have some tools in the house anyway, so I see this as a good opportunity to become familiar with them.
And as the Swabians say, “Having doesn’t come from giving.”
FloHB123 schrieb:
We simply glued the baseboards. Using clips probably takes ages because you have to drill many holes. It’s not like you take them down every few months. And cables will likely stay there for many years anyway.It’s quick and easy. About 1 clip per meter (3 feet). Holes can be drilled quickly.
Does anyone have an idea for a "temporary solution" as an alternative to baseboards?
We want to wait the required minimum of six months, but right now the edges of our living areas look really untidy. The wallpaper lengths vary, and the paint doesn’t reach the floor—it’s clear the painter expected us to install baseboards later. Overall, I don’t want to live with this appearance for half a year.
Is there a way to temporarily fix this without causing moisture problems?
Maybe some kind of wallpaper border or adhesive trim that can be replaced later by baseboards? I just want a visually cleaner finish between the wall and the floor.
We want to wait the required minimum of six months, but right now the edges of our living areas look really untidy. The wallpaper lengths vary, and the paint doesn’t reach the floor—it’s clear the painter expected us to install baseboards later. Overall, I don’t want to live with this appearance for half a year.
Is there a way to temporarily fix this without causing moisture problems?
Maybe some kind of wallpaper border or adhesive trim that can be replaced later by baseboards? I just want a visually cleaner finish between the wall and the floor.
I think it’s time to start on the baseboards this year.
I’m leaning towards doing it myself, so we can work room by room. We’ve already moved in, and a professional would probably need to move the furniture around more quickly than we can manage.
I’m thinking of using MDF baseboards with an adhesive version. You probably don’t take them down very often, and if you do, it’s usually when renovating.
Has anyone had experience with the corner blocks? I’ve heard several times that you’re likely to catch on them when cleaning or vacuuming.
Alternatively, I considered buying a coping and miter box, which costs about €30 (around $32), and apparently allows you to measure the wall angle and cut the baseboards accurately. At least, that’s my understanding.
However, I’m a bit skeptical because it’s not just the angle that has to be right, but also the length so that everything fits together properly in the end. What’s the best way to calculate that? Or am I overcomplicating things?
I’m leaning towards doing it myself, so we can work room by room. We’ve already moved in, and a professional would probably need to move the furniture around more quickly than we can manage.
I’m thinking of using MDF baseboards with an adhesive version. You probably don’t take them down very often, and if you do, it’s usually when renovating.
Has anyone had experience with the corner blocks? I’ve heard several times that you’re likely to catch on them when cleaning or vacuuming.
Alternatively, I considered buying a coping and miter box, which costs about €30 (around $32), and apparently allows you to measure the wall angle and cut the baseboards accurately. At least, that’s my understanding.
However, I’m a bit skeptical because it’s not just the angle that has to be right, but also the length so that everything fits together properly in the end. What’s the best way to calculate that? Or am I overcomplicating things?
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