Baseboard height transition question?

[Chris Rich]

Hi there, I have a dilemma at the top of the stairs.
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Is there a clean way to transition down 3/4". I was going to finish the end as a return. I read a thread from a few years ago that had a pretty good idea. Here is the original picture. Kind of similar to my issue but I have no idea if it would work for my profile and how to do it based on the picture.
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I do realize that I could rip 3/4" off the bottom but I would have to do that for an entire 400 square foot room. Does anyone have any other ideas?

Thanks, Chris

[Chris Rich]

Oh...and credit Tom Ewell (http://www.sawmillcreek.org/member.php?61444-Tom-Ewell) for the excellent transition idea. I'm going to try it now and post a picture if I can figure it out...

[thomas prusak]

How about just using a block that is a bit taller and slightly thicker than your taller piece? Each piece simply dies in to it.

[thomas prusak]

Crude sketch

[thomas prusak]

Try again to include drawing330832330831

[Chris Rich]

Wow Thomas, that's a great idea. I could even do some sort of a decorative piece. I also tried this which actually looks pretty good. I could do both sides of the stairs and call it a design "feature":

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Thanks much for the idea!

[Chris Rich]

Is that a plinth block? Trying to find something decorative...

[Dave Lash]

You could use a corner block to compensate for the different heights of the base board.

http://www.homedepot.com/catalog/productImages/400/40/404062b7-763b-4182-81f3-644a79f59236_400.jpg



http://images.lowes.com/product/converted/009215/009215114236lg.jpg

[ryan paulsen]

Wow Thomas, that's a great idea. I could even do some sort of a decorative piece. I also tried this which actually looks pretty good. I could do both sides of the stairs and call it a design "feature":

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Thanks much for the idea!

Our house was dolne with the same material used for the plinth blocks around the doors, looks really nice (although your test piece looks nice as well).

[Sam Murdoch]

I like the plinth idea more than the "overwrought", though probably more architectural correct, dropped miter that you show.
The plinth should wrap the corner of the wall BUT the down side to introducing another trim element is that - to my mind- you now need to use the plinth detail throughout that floor (at least - if not the entire house). That means that under door casings too. I write - in my mind - because I really hate orphan details and try to avoid them at all costs whether in trimming houses or building furniture.

A plinth can be nothing more than a thicker (1/4") and slightly taller (1/2") piece of the same molding or something with a different but compatible profile. I would not use a "post" or something that looks post like.

[Chris Rich]

Thanks all for the advice. I'm going to do some testing to see what works for me...