In our next step we want to fill
in the wall area with piece #4. First cut #3 with the
same outside
miters as we did in the first illustration. With piece
#4 make one outside miter that will intersect with #3,
either with a long full piece or cut to approximate
length leaving a few inches over hanging. Some prefer to
actually measure from the inside corner to the miter cut
on the original #1 piece with a tape measure. The choice
is yours but I've found this method to work better.
After all pieces are nailed
securely into place, follow to the next area. This is
where it will get interesting.
End Capping
This is one of my pet peeves. I've
seen some really sharp hardwood floor installations only
to be ruined by a sloppy trim installer.
Expensive $20,000 floors with trim that looks like a 12
year old did the work. End
capping or also termed returns, bring the
finishing touches together. It doesn't take that much
longer to do and you'll love the final outcome.
In our two room example, a total
of ten returns will be needed. These are all areas where
the quarter round will stop at the door casings
or woodwork. Two more can be added, depending on how
much of a perfectionist you are. They would be inside
the closet where few would ever notice. We'll leave that
up to you.
Returns. How They're Made?
First you'll need a very sharp saw
blade on that miter saw. In fact, if I haven't covered
it already, a sharp blade can be very important when
cutting harder hardwoods species like the Maple trim
we're using in this example. Let's tackle end cap #2.
You want to cut an inside miter that will be the
stopping point at the door casing, and whatever
measurement is needed to complete the trim along that
same wall line.
Don't be misled by the next photo
as it is taken out of context but will serve to show how
outside corners are
handled along with the inside miter/end cap. Measure
from the point at which the door casing starts, and to
the outside corner that will be mitered.
In the photo below an inside miter
is cut for the starting point of the actual end cap
area. This is the end of the quarter round that will
start at the door casing. To create the actual end cap,
swing the miter saw blade position to the opposite 45
degree angle making a cut on a smaller separate scrap
piece (no photo).
To create the small end cap from
our scrap piece, position the miter saw blade to a 0
degree setting and make the cut at the exact point the
outside miter was made. This can be especially hard
trying to describe so I hope you are following well?
Perhaps a video at a later date. |
