I am doing baseboards for the new addition. There are a few outside corners in high traffic areas. From past experience, miter joints in these locations take a real beating over time. Are there any other attractive options commonly used? Perhaps someone could point me at a trim carpentry reference? I’ve already done a search of the archives and now feel better about coping joints for inside corners, but did not find any options to miter joints for outside corners. Thanks in advance for your time.
Scott
Replies
Scott. Sometimes corners are done with a block. Both inside and outside. A good lumberyard (NOT HD) would have a trim board or pamphlet that should show it. At least you can get an idea of how to make it. The block stands proud of the thickness of the base a bit, the base dies into the block. It is also a little taller than the base. This is a solid, usually square pc. that stands straight up in or on the corner. On an outside corner it usually wraps around the corner of the wall. Hard to describe, don't have a picture, but a good local lumberyard should be able to help you. The style was used in old time base, but you should be able to produce something that'll complement the style of base you choose.........I hope.........best of luck.
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Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
Picking up on Calvin's reply, any good building supply will be able to order, if they don't already stock, outside corner blocks. They're generally available in oak or pine. If you want a custom block, look at the stock ones for ideas and then use a table saw and/or router table to run off a couple of long sticks of your desired profile, and whack them to length.
Calvin and BEMW,
Thanks for the info. I'm on my way to Dixieline lumber (a San Diego chain with good stock and service) to pick up a Toto toilet on the way home anyway. I will stop at the lumber desk and get some along with the baseboard moulding. I had a feeling that somebody had already solved this problem, but I never really paid attention to this subject until I had to do it.
In the other thread on mitering trim moulding, somebody said that they hate painted wood trim and someone else mentioned MDF mouldings. I did all the baseboards in the original house about two years ago when we tiled the floors. My house was built in 1953 as a cheap rental and the walls are rather wavy down by the floor (although remarkably straight near the ceiling). MDF painted to match the walls (white) with with paintable caulk sure did make life better. And my baseboard cost a third of my neighbors oak baseboards, installed in 1/3 the time and looked better. Sometimes the easy way is better.
Thanks again for the info. Happy Friday!
Scott
Why would any other outside corner treatment take less of a beating than a mitered one?...traffic cones?...you could make corner blocks that were rounded on the outside, but they're still gonna get beat, I guess...I've been trimming houses for 15 years and haven't ever seen this as a problem...got some more specifics on what's doing the damage? It's okay, I can fix it!
Cover em with some angle iron. That'll take some abuse.
I had a millshop make my outside corners for 3/4 inch bullnose. It stands a half inch higher than the 1 X 4 pine base and is about a 1/4 inch proud. It looks great and saves the headache of mitering two or three times around the round corner. As far as durability, the have taken the lickins and have kept on tickin. I have also seen special order blocks for all different kinds of base....
Hope it all works out