How to Use a Base Cap as Ceiling Trim

A base cap is a thin strip of molding typically applied to the bottom of a strip of plain baseboard trim. It has an concave profile in which one edge, typically the one that is meant to sit on the floor, pushes out farther than the other. If you have extra base caps or if you simply want a small amount of differentiation between the ceiling and the wall, install a base cap as ceiling molding instead. This requires only a small amount of woodworking experience and can be completed in an afternoon.

Base cap
Measuring tape
Hand saw
Miter saw
Construction adhesive
Finish nails
Hammer

Instructions

- 1
  Place the base cap in the room where it is to be installed for about 48 hours. This allows the base cap to swell or contract as necessary for the room’s ambient humidity.
- 2
  Measure the walls where you want to install the base cap. If the base cap is meant for an outside corner, add the width of the base cap to the measurement.
- 3
  Cut lengths of base cap with a hand saw that match the measurements you found in Step 2.
- 4
  Bevel the ends of the base cap to 45 degrees using a miter saw. Be careful to match the beveling to the right piece of base cap. For example, a piece of base cap between two outside corners will have bevels that slant in different directions than than one between two inside corners. Also, ensure that the longer edge is against the ceiling.
- 5
  Apply an S-shaped bead of construction adhesive to the flat back of the base cap.
- 6
  Push the base cap firmly to a wall where it meets the ceiling, ensuring that the longer edge lies against the ceiling rather than the wall.
- 7
  Allow the construction adhesive to cure for 24 hours.
- 8
  Secure the base cap further by pounding finish nails from the trim to the wall using a hammer.

How to Cut the Baseboard to Hang a Door

How to Fit a Base Mold Around a Curve

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