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Molding Tip: Why do we measure from a miter’s short point?

The goal for molding and trimwork is to make it look like it grew there, so any tips to help get accurate and clean intersections, tight corners, and spot-on seams is appreciated. Even after installing miles of trimwork, there’s always something new to learn that makes a home improvement job even better. Here’s a molding tip on how to get more accurate and easier measurements by measuring from a miter’s short point.

Watch the video on how to measure from the short point of a miter

Tool tip: How to measure trim more quickly with a work table
Molding tip: How to measure to the heel—short point—of molding

Why measure to the heel (short point) of trim?

  • If I’ve measured a door casing incorrectly and I need to shorten it.

  • If the toe (long point of the miter) isn’t complete because it hits a ceiling or other obstruction.

  • If the trim conundrum I’m trying to solve only enables me to measure short-to-short–this happens in outside corners all the time–I have to measure from a short point of an already mitered piece.

How to measure to the miter’s short point

  1. Align the miter’s heel to the edge of the table.

  2. Then hook the tape measure on the edge of the table to get the measurement. 

More molding tip and trim-spiration

author avatar
Mark
A licensed contractor, tool expert, wood and outdoor enthusiast, and elite Spartan Race competitor, he writes about home improvement and tools for national magazines and websites, and teaches hands-on clinics for other remodeling professionals. Check out his book, The Carpenter's Notebook.

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