How to Finish a Baseboard

Painting Baseboards

• 1

  Attach a piece of 120-grit sandpaper to a sanding block or palm sander. Put on a sanding mask. Sand the baseboard until it’s smooth. Brush the sanding dust away with a lint-free rag dipped in denatured alcohol. Repeat this process with 180-grit and 220-grit sandpaper, taking care each time to sand away any marks left by the coarser grits.

• 2

  Fill all holes, dents and cracks with water-mix putty using a putty knife, making sure to fill any cracks surrounding knotholes. Smooth and feather the edges of the filled areas with the putty knife. Allow the putty to dry for the length of time specified by the manufacturer.

• 3

  Sand the filled areas with 220-grit sandpaper. Wipe the sanding dust away with a lint-free rag dipped in denatured alcohol. If cracks or holes are still visible, repeat Steps 2 and 3.

• 4

  Apply a thin, even coat of primer to the baseboard with a paintbrush. Allow the primer to dry for the length of time specified by the manufacturer. Sand the primed board lightly with 220-grit sandpaper to remove brush marks and other imperfections. Wipe the sanding dust away before proceeding.

• 5

  Paint the baseboard across the grain, moving the brush lightly back and forth. Once the entire baseboard is coated, brush back over it with long, smooth strokes, this time following the grain. Let the paint dry for the length of time specified by the manufacturer. Apply a second coat if necessary.

Staining Baseboards

• 6

  Attach a piece of 120-grit sandpaper to a sanding block or palm sander. Put on a sanding mask. Sand the baseboard until it’s smooth. Brush the sanding dust away with a lint-free rag dipped in denatured alcohol. Repeat this process with 180-grit and 220-grit sandpaper, taking care each time to sand away all marks left by the coarser grits.

• 7

  Fill any holes and cracks with a stainable wood dough. Press a small amount of the dough into each hole with your thumb. Wipe excess wood dough from the baseboard with a damp rag.

• 8

  Stir the wood stain thoroughly. Dip a lint-free rag into the stain and rub it evenly over the baseboard, following the grain. Allow the stain to soak into the wood for the length of time specified by the manufacturer.

• 9

  Wipe excess stain from the baseboard with a clean lint-free rag, again following the grain. Allow the stain to dry. Apply an additional coat of stain if desired.

• 10

  Apply varnish, if desired, by brushing across the grain with a foam brush. Let the first coat dry according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Sand the varnish coat lightly with 220-grit sandpaper and wipe away the sanding dust. Apply a second coat of varnish, this time brushing with the grain. Allow the final coat of varnish to dry thoroughly before installing the baseboard.