Tricky issue with installing new baseboards

titan7

I just had tile installed on the entire downstairs. I want to put in baseboards but there is one area that will be a problem. My HVAC air return is on the bottom of a wall and the grill is only 1.25" off the surface of the tile. The issue is I am using 2 1/4" baseboards so they will not fit under the AC vent grill. The metal grill is 4 feet wide.

So am I better off ripping a 1 1/4" piece of the baseboard and nailing that under the grill and then using the full height 2 1/4" baseboard on the rest of the wall. I will have a buttjoint there but you won't see it because of the TV stand. The other option would be attempting to cut a "U" shaped section out of the 2 1/4" base material so it would sort of wrap around the vent? Any other suggestions?

TheDoorGuy

Either of your ideas will be just fine.
Easiest would be your first idea with a butt joint on either side of grill.
Just do your best to get the front surfaces to line up and then sand smooth.
Caulk if necessary then paint....It will be perfect!!

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Richard The Door Guy

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Ron6519

A baseboard of 2 1/4" is a little small. This size material is better suited to window or door trim.
Ron

henrybo

Try cutting the "u" shape out of two pieces, that way you will have the butt joint under the center of the vent and it will only be 1.25" high. If you cut the two pieces @ 22 1/2 degrees where the butt joint would be you won't even really have a butt joint. I always use 22 1/2 degrees for any lap joint, If you use a butt joint the wood will shrink and open up.

Millertyme

one more idea is to mount the vent plate onto a piece of 3/4" material. Cut out the opening for the hole and leave an 1-1/4" margin around the vent. you will be basically be making a rosette for the vent to be sitting on. Now you will just have 2 butt joints into your trim piece.

RTRCon

Im with Millertyme.. Wrap the vent opening with 1x2 and butt the base into each side.

BigJim

I hadn't thought about doing it that way, neat idea. The way we use to do it was rip the molding to go under the vent and 45 the molding back at each side and wrap the vent with the rest of the molding width you ripped off.

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