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Step 1. To install a three-board base assembly, first Cut the baseboards to length, and test them for fit. If these boards don’t sit flat on the floor, place them on shims; level them in place; then scribe the bottom edge to the floor, as shown below left. Here the shims represent the height of the finished flooring.

Step 2. Nail the baseboards on the wall; then cut and nail the base cap boards in place. Form inside corners by nailing a square end base cap in place. Then cope the end of the other cap board and test fit the joint.

Step 3. A finished outside corner shows how the boards are joined. The ends of the baseboards, the base caps, and the shoe moldings are all joined with miter joints. No coped joints are required.

Step 4. When a shoe molding ends next to a plinth block at the bottom of a door casing, hold the shoe next to the block. Then mark the end of the shoe molding to show how much of it is exposed beyond the front of the plinth block.

Step 5. Cut an open miter on the end of the shoe molding, so the scribed line is just visible. Then nail the shoe to the baseboard using 4d finishing nails. Make sure that you don’t nail the shoe to the floor because it can split over time as the floor moves up and down.