Base Cap Molding – My Favorite Trim

Should you’ve learn my weblog for a very good period of time, you know the way a lot I like to make use of totally different moldings and trims to create the appears that I need in my home. And whereas I do use many alternative trims and moldings, I do have a favourite — base cap molding. I discover it to be so versatile and so helpful in so many alternative tasks and in so many alternative methods. So let me present you the numerous ways in which I’ve used this versatile molding (though this is probably not an exhaustive checklist).

However first, let’s discuss what base cap molding is. Whereas you will discover base cap molding in numerous profiles, they’re all going to be very related. That is the profile of the one which I exploit from House Depot…

The dimensions is 11/16 inch by 1 3/8 inches, and it is available in pre-primed fingerjoint (which is what I at all times purchase for inside use) or PVC (nice for outside use). The pre-primed fingerjoint is offered by the linear foot. The PVC is normally offered by the 8-foot piece. And naturally, you too can discover it unfinished in numerous wooden species, though these are typically one thing you need to order on-line.

So how do I exploit this versatile trim? Effectively, because the identify would recommend, the primary function of base cap molding is to cap a baseboard. Should you use plain 1″ x 4″ or 1″ x 6″ lumber on your baseboards, as I did within the again entry of the studio and the studio rest room, then it simply provides a bit element to the highest of these plain baseboards.

Can you see it? It’s simply this little piece right here…

However you don’t should restrict its use to capping plain baseboards. In my hallway, music room, and lounge, I used fancier baseboards, and I nonetheless used the bottom cap so as to add top and a bit extra flourish.

May you inform the place the baseboard ended and the bottom cap began?

However there are such a lot of methods aside from capping baseboards to make use of this superior trim. I’ve only in the near past proven you the way I used base cap molding to beef up the crown molding within the grasp rest room. I nonetheless have to caulk between the 2 to do away with the darkish shadow between them, however you possibly can see the way it provides some top to the crown molding…

Base cap molding can be my go-to molding for creating image body molding. Bear in mind the entryway when it had the hand drawn department and butterfly mural?

The trim I used to create these packing containers framing the mural, in addition to the image frames on the underside of the wall, was base cap molding.

My music room additionally has image body molding on the underside part of the wall below the chair rail, and it’s additionally created out of base cap molding. However within the music room, I additionally used the bottom cap on the ceiling to complete off the sides of the MDF that varieties the “body” across the ceiling.

Within the hallway rest room, somewhat than easy wainscoting utilizing image body molding, I opted to create panels out of 1″ x 4″ lumber, after which trimmed the within of these panels utilizing base cap molding.

The bottom cap is that this little trim inside every of these panels, and it offers the panels such a fairly, completed look…

I additionally used base cap in a really related approach after I constructed the fireside.

Identical to I did on the lavatory partitions, I used 1″ lumber to create panels, after which trimmed the within edges of these panels with the bottom cap molding to offer it a completed and conventional look.

Base cap may also be used on the outside of a house (however I’d advocate utilizing PVC outdoor). I used it after I beefed up these skinny columns on our entrance porch to create these columns and the matching newel posts for the steps. Can you see it?

It’s this trim that tops off the thicker bases of the posts.

After which I can’t overlook the usefulness of base cap molding for ornamental items. The body on the pixel artwork within the music room was constructed utilizing base cap molding. I’m positive you possibly can spot it.

The outer fringe of the body is a straightforward 1″ x 2″ piece of lumber, and the flat piece up towards the artwork is a 1″ x 3″ piece of lumber. These two items on their very own would have been a bit too plain for my style, so I added a bit flourish with some base cap molding.

So in relation to ornamental trim, that is my predominant go-to trim. Should you’re not accustomed to base cap molding, search for it the following time you’re in House Depot or Lowe’s or no matter residence enchancment retailer you store in that carries trim. Let your creativeness go wild. There are such a lot of methods you may use this trim.

You would even use it to fancy up your door and window casings. In case your door and window casings are simply plain 1″ x 4″ lumber (or one thing related and plain), simply add this round the entire thing, nailing it to the outer fringe of the face of the casings. You’ll go from plain to customized with out having to take something aside or fully redo your casings.

Severely, the probabilities with this trim are limitless. When you see it, and let your self think about the varied methods sit can be utilized, you’ll see why it’s my favourite.

Addicted 2 Adorning is the place I share my DIY and adorning journey as I rework and beautify the 1948 fixer higher that my husband, Matt, and I purchased in 2013. Matt has M.S. and is unable to do bodily work, so I do the vast majority of the work on the home on my own. You may study extra about me right here.

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