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Last updated on October 14th, 2022 at 01:24 pm
Minimum List Of Required Tools To Replace Baseboard & Why You Need Them
Ready to install some baseboard and wondering what tools you need to get the job done?
Well, look no further because in this article, I’ll only go over the bare minimum tools needed to remove and install baseboard like a professional.
And I’ve broken the tools up by task, so you can easily follow along with what tools you need and how you need to use them to get your baseboard installed as quickly as possible.
Let’s dive in!
Quick Navigation: List Of Tools Needed To Install Baseboards
- Tools To Remove Baseboard
- Tools To Measure & Mark Baseboard
- Tools To Cut Baseboard
- Tools To Attach Baseboard To The Wall
- Tools To Finish Baseboard
- Cheat Sheet To Baseboard Corner Cuts
- Final Thoughts
- Related Trim & Moulding Articles
Tools To Remove Baseboard
Before you can start installing the baseboard, you need to remove any existing baseboard using the following tools.
(If you are starting with a blank slate, then skip to the next section.)
Tool One: Utility Knife
The first tool you need to remove the baseboard is a utility knife.
A utility knife like this one found at Amazon is only necessary to remove the baseboard if there is a bead of caulk attaching it to the wall, floor, or other pieces of trim.
To determine if you need this tool, check along the top and bottom of the baseboard for any existing caulk.
(This will likely only be there if your existing baseboard is painted.)
If there is caulk there, then use a utility knife to cut the baseboard away from the wall.
Doing this prior to removal will help minimize the damage left behind on the wall during the removal process.
However, if there is no caulk holding your baseboard to the wall, then you can skip this tool.
Tool Two: Prybar or Screwdriver
The next tool you need to remove baseboards is a prybar.
A prybar like this one found at Amazon will help you gently pull the baseboard away from the wall without damaging too much of the existing wall.
Or if brad nails were used to secure the baseboard (you can tell if the nail heads are tiny like in the picture below), you can use a screwdriver to pry with as well.
Be sure to only pry away at the nail holes of the prybar, though, otherwise you can do a lot of damage to the wall that you will have to repair before installing new drywall.
There are two reasons to pry away baseboard right next to the nail heads:
- The nails will come out of the studs easier
- The prybar will be pushing against a part of the wall that has a stud behind it, so you will be less likely to punch a hole through the wall while prying
Save yourself some time and money and use a prybar to pull the existing baseboards away from the wall.
Related Trim & Moulding Articles
- How To Choose The Trim Color Based Off Your Door Color (With Pictures!)
- Casing, Trim, Baseboard, Moulding: What’s The Difference & When To Use
- Coping Vs Mitered Baseboard Corners: What’s The Difference & When Should You Do It?
Tools To Measure & Mark Baseboard
Now that any existing baseboard has been removed, it’s time to measure and mark your new baseboard. You will need the following tools to accomplish this task.
Tool Three: Tape Measure
The first tool you need to measure and mark baseboard is a tape measure.
I’m sure this goes without saying, but just in case, a tape measure will let you measure the length of the wall and the length of the baseboard so that you can cut the pieces to the correct size.
I find this Komelon tape measure found at Amazon (exactly the same as the Performax one I have in the picture) quite handy to measure most rooms with ease. And it auto-stops, so that you can easily measure the wall or board without the entire thing flying back into the reel and pinching your finger when you aren’t done with it yet.
Tool Four: Pencil
The next tool you need to measure and mark baseboard is a pencil.
The pencil lets you mark your measurements on the baseboard before cutting.
These Dixon Reach contractor pencils found at Amazon are so much nicer than standard pencils.
They are like fancy mechanical pencils, so you never have to worry about sharpening them. Plus, the lead is thicker than a normal mechanical pencil, so you can extend it into tight places and make a mark without worrying about the lead breaking.
I find that a tape measure and pencil are two of the most used tools in my toolbox, so they’re worth splurging just a hare on.
Tools To Cut Baseboard
Once you’ve got your first wall measured and your first piece of baseboard marked, it’s time to cut using the following tools.
Tool Five: Miter Saw Or Miter Box
Depending on your budget and desired cutting speed, baseboard can be cut with either a miter saw or a miter box.
| Miter Saw | Miter Box |
|---|---|
| Corded or battery-powered | Hand powered |
| Faster to cut | Slower to cut |
| More expensive | Cheaper |
| Can be used for other projects | Mostly used to cut trim and baseboard |
Personally, we use our miter saw for all sorts of other DIY projects, plus it made installing baseboard and trim throughout our entire house faster, so we invested in a miter saw.
I love this miter saw found at Amazon because it’s got a laser that helps you line up the saw with your pencil mark to get the perfect cuts. It’s just like my Tool Shop brand miter saw from Harbor Freight, except it can be delivered directly to your house!
However, if you only need to cut trim or baseboard and you want to install baseboard on a budget, then a miter box is a better choice.
This miter box found at Amazon is a budget-friendly baseboard cutting tool.
(And if you know this is the only cutting project you will have for potentially years, then the best option is renting a miter saw from the closest home improvement store for a few hours to tackle your project.)
Tool Six: Coping Saw
The next tool you need to cut baseboard is a coping saw.
You will only need a hacksaw if you plan on coping the inside corners of your baseboard.
For a detailed explanation of what coping is and whether coping or mitering baseboard corners is a better move, check out my article here.
If you have detailed baseboard such as colonial style, then you will find use in this simple coping saw found at Amazon.
Tools To Attach Baseboard To The Wall
Once you’ve got your baseboard cut to length, then you will need some tools to attach it to the wall.
This is another area where the tool you use might depend on your budget.
Tool Seven: Nail Gun Or Hammer
To attach baseboard to the studs in the wall, you will either need to use a pneumatic nail gun or a hammer.
| Pneumatic Nail Gun | Hammer |
|---|---|
| Compressed air drives the nail in | Your hand power drives the nail in |
| Faster to drive nails in | Slower to drive nails in |
| Easier to get a clean nail driven into the correct area | Easier to miss while swinging the hammer and damage the area around the nail |
| Nails are smaller, so easier to hide | Nails are larger, so more easily seen |
| Easier to install in tight spaces | Harder to swing a hammer to drive the nail in tight spaces |
| More expensive | Cheaper |
If you are going for speed and don’t mind the investment, then using a pneumatic nailer will certainly make your baseboard job go super fast (and be much easier).
I’ve installed baseboard using both tools, and I confidently say we installed baseboard faster in an entire house using a pneumatic nail gun and brad nails than we did while using a hammer and finishing nails in one room in another house.
However, the air compressor tank and brad nail gun found at Amazon are significantly more expensive than a hammer.
So if you are going for a budget-friendly option and don’t mind taking a little longer to install, then this hammer found at Amazon is the better way to go.
Tool Eight: Brad Nails Or Finishing Nails
The next tool you need to attach the baseboard to the studs in the wall is a nail.
The nail will be dependent on which nailing tool you chose above.
If you use a pneumatic nail gun, then you will need these 2-inch 18 gauge brad nails found at Amazon.
And if you use a hammer, then you will need these 2-inch finishing nails found at Amazon.
Tools To Finish Baseboard
The last set of tools you need to install the baseboard is the finishing tools.
Tool Nine: Caulk Gun
If your baseboard is painted, then you will want to caulk along the baseboard and wall to hide any unevenness or gaps.
I love this caulk gun found at Amazon because the rod retracts after each squeeze so caulk doesn’t come gushing out after you’re done and make a mess.
Also, the handle and trigger are padded, which is so much friendlier on your hand than unpadded guns!
And lastly, you can snip the tip of the caulk right on the gun! Much easier than using a utility knife the old-fashioned way.
Tool Ten: Painter’s Caulk
And the final tool you need to install the baseboard is the painter’s caulk.
The best kind of caulk to use between the baseboard and a wall is some painter’s caulk. It can easily be painted after it dries (hence its name) and it will expand and contract with the window to minimize cracking over time.
This Dap painter’s caulk found at Amazon is an excellent caulk to accomplish this task. (P.S. This link is to a 6-pack. If you are doing all of the baseboards in your house, then you will need this much. Otherwise, 1-2 tubes should be sufficient to do a single room.)
Cheat Sheet To Baseboard Corner Cuts
Now that you’ve got all the tools you need to install the baseboard, you should check out my downloadable cheat sheet to help you cut the baseboard corners like a pro.
You can find that free downloadable PDF here.
Final Thoughts On Tools Needed For Baseboard Installation
There you have it!
This list of tools is the bare minimum you need to tackle your baseboard installation project.
Luckily, you can accomplish this project for super cheap, or you can splurge a little to help you get this project accomplished super fast.
Either way, I wish you luck in removing and installing your basboard.
Catch you in my next post!
Related Trim & Moulding Articles
- How To Choose The Trim Color Based Off Your Door Color (With Pictures!)
- Casing, Trim, Baseboard, Moulding: What’s The Difference & When To Use
- Coping Vs Mitered Baseboard Corners: What’s The Difference & When Should You Do It?
Tools Needed To Remove & Install Baseboard Throughout The Entire House
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