Here is a pic where the installer sloped the baseboard after installation—and not surprisingly, his work ended up in a floor inspection:
If the 4-1/2” wall would have been painted dark like the hallway it wouldn’t have been as noticeable. But what’s the proper way to make this change in base height in a situation such as this after the floor installation?
There are three ways this could have been addressed at the time of estimating;
1. Show the customers a photo of what an the angled baseboard looks like on a wall like that.
2. Where the hardwood was added, rip the baseboard down to the same height around the corner until it dies into a dead-ended wall. Yes, it will appear shorter just like the exposed area over the carpet, which you have to get approval for. Hint: Always rip base 1/8” wider so it will cover the existing paint line—on the 4-1/2” wall, 1/8” is easy to hide.
3. Use a “baseboard outside corner block,” which is easy to install. These can be easily located at your custom millwork shops.
Estimators should have these images in their portfolio with them to show the there different styles available to the customer for their approval. This clears the air and creates clear expectations regarding what the customer wants to see when the floor is complete.
