Replies

1. 
   Sphere | Oct 27, 2004 05:43pm | #1

   whats the hieght of the base board? that determines how high the high the plinth needs to be.

    

   Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

   Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations. 

2. FHB Editor
   JFink | Oct 27, 2004 08:20pm | #2

   Sphere is right, your baseboard has to be chosen first.  I like to use plinths that are maybe 1 to 2 inches taller than the baseboard, but it all depends on the type of room too.  If you have really large baseboard(and other trim) you might want a proportionally large plinth.  In other words, if all the trimwork in the room is exaggerated in size then the plinths should probably be exaggerated as well.

   -Justin

   "If God didn't want me to wear this Led Zeppelin shirt everyday he wouldn't have made them rock out so hard"
1. 
   fossil | Oct 27, 2004 09:58pm | #3

   I'm remodeling a 1910 home with 10'' tall plinth blocks.  The baseboard is 7 1/4''.  The width is 5 1/2''. 1 1/8'' thick.

3. 
   gdavis62 | Oct 27, 2004 10:12pm | #4

   Keep in mind that bottom door hinge location when thinking through this plinth block thing.

   I have seen guys special order the doors to move the hinge up a little, to clear the blocks.

4. 
   woodguy99 | Oct 28, 2004 12:23am | #5

   Like the other guys said, you need to clear the baseboard height.  The other issue is proportion.  Plinth blocks look best, IMO, when the height is 1.5 to 2 times the width.  Ideally 1.6 (the golden mean). 

   If your baseboard is 1x4 and your casing is 1x4, a square plinth block would look funny.  Ditto if the plinth is too tall.

1. 
   GoldenWreckedAngle | Oct 28, 2004 01:07am | #7

   Good word - 1.61804 if you want to be on the money. :-)>Kevin Halliburton And with that, the great emporer Oz gently floated away on a curtain of hot air, laughing at the unfortunate ignorance of little people beneath him. But under his breath he cursed that stupid little dog...

2. 
   JorgeW | Oct 28, 2004 07:11pm | #10

   Mike,

   Thank you for your response, I am simply amazed about the amount of great information I have received. 

   Currently, the casing will be 1x4 pre- prime-pine (Flat stock).

   I'm was going to mock-up the baseboard this weekend to see if I will use 1x4 or 1x5.  I would like the baseboard to have a larger presence than the casing and therefore started to consider using 1x5.  But, now I am concern that might be too exagerated.  But, I will use the golden ratio to determine  the height of the plinth depending on what I use.  

   Therefore 1x4 the plinth height would be approx 5 5/8". (seems kind of short)

   If it is 1x5 them the plinth height would be just over 7 1/4"

   Thanks

   Jorge

1. 
   fartherhome | Oct 28, 2004 09:51pm | #11

   You cant use 1x plinth with 1x base . plinth should be thicker than the base so the base can die into it.It should also be wider than your casing to look right.

5. 
   hammer1 | Oct 28, 2004 01:03am | #6

   I look at both the casing and the base. With plinth blocks you generally set very close to the rabbet. I try to get the casing to balance, equal overhang on each side. I then match the overhang to the height of the baseboard. If the plinth is wider than the casing by 1/2" on one side, I make the height 1/2" taller than the base and cap if there is one. I don't think there are any hard "rules" since there are so many possible molding and design choices. Plinths also look better, to me, if they are thicker than the adjoining moldings, 3/4" molding = 1" plinth.

   Beat it to fit / Paint it to match

6. 
   DonCanDo | Oct 28, 2004 01:21am | #8

   I framed out an opening for a thin in-the-wall radiator and used plinth blocks to make the transition from the baseboard to the casing.  I simply chose a size that looked right.  see picture.

   -Don

7. 
   GACCDallas | Oct 28, 2004 01:24am | #9

   1/2" above baseboard. Inline with casing or 1/8" reveal. Never flush with the jamb.

   That's what we do unless directed otherwise by the clients.

   Ed.