What Type Of Nails Are Used To Install Shoe Molding

Installing quarter round molding In this post I'll evidence you lot how to install quarter round molding (or shoe molding, or baseboards) with simply a few simple tools.

Whether you've just installed completely new floors or are simply updating your trim, part of the project is installing new baseboards or molding.

Quarter round is a perfect, simple selection for bridging the gap between your floors and the walls for a make clean and finished look. You can besides go a fancier route with all kinds of elaborate molding, simply for the purpose of this tutorial I'm just using good old fashioned quarter circular.

Now, nearly tutorials yous'll find online will tell y'all to nail the molding in identify with a pneumatic nailer. But, if you're a normal person like me and not a construction worker, you don't simply take a pneumatic nailer laying effectually. Non merely are they pricey to buy, but they're a pain to rent because in that location are so many different parts y'all demand to get (nailer, air compressor, special nails, etc.).

The good news is, you can complete your baseboard installation with merely a hammer and nails and one more magical tool: a nail set.

Tools And Materials To Install Quarter Round Molding

Hack saw (many other types of saws volition work too, but a hack saw is quick and piece of cake)
Hammer
Finishing nails
Nail set
Latex sealant/caulk

How To Install Quarter Round Molding Without A Blast Gun

A blast set is a uncomplicated tool that looks just like a pencil, but fabricated out of metal. Instead of hammering your finishing nails all the way into the molding, which would result in an ugly, hammer-shaped dent, y'all're going to hammer them almost all the way in, then terminate the job with the blast fix.

Stride 1: Cut molding

You tin use any kind of saw y'all're comfy with to cut quarter circular molding; since it'south pretty easy to cut by manus, I used a simple hack saw.

Step ii: Lay molding against wall, flush with the floor

It'south okay if there are small gaps betwixt the molding and the wall; you're going to fill up those in later with sealant. It's better to pay attention to laying the molding squeamish and flat against the floor.

Step three: Hammer your finishing smash nigh all the mode into the wall

E'er boom baseboards into the wall—never the floor. It'southward easiest to hammer if yous angle your nail slightly downwards rather than trying to nail straight in.

Hammer with confidence! Yous're less likely to miss and dent your baseboard if yous take a few good, solid whacks rather than if you're taking a dozen tiny hits to move the boom in. This comes with practice, and I still oasis't mastered it.

End hammering when there'due south about ane/viii of an inch of the nail still sticking out of the wall.

how to install quarter round molding Installing quarter round molding

Step 4: Use the nail set to drive the blast the rest of the way in

Line upward the tip of the blast set up with the top of your nail. Nail sets come in different sizes; you want one that's just a tiny bit smaller than your nailhead.

Now, use the hammer on the nail prepare to drive the nail the remainder of the fashion into the wall. This part takes some practice and y'all'll probably miss a few times at showtime! You might want to do on a spare piece of plywood until y'all get the hang of it.

You're done once you've driven the nail but beneath the surface of your baseboard. Continue driving your nails about ii feet apart along the length of the baseboard.

Install quarter round molding

Step v: Finish with sealant

Use a tube of bones indoor/outdoor sealant or caulk to close the gap between the baseboard and the wall. Don't worry if it's coming out of the tube a trivial sloppy–the best tool for getting a smooth, perfect seal is your finger. Once you've applied the sealant, run your (clean) finger over the tiptop to smooth it out. Wipe off any excess with a paper towel.

Step 6: Cover blast heads

If y'all've done a good job with your boom set, your nail heads are barely noticeable. Still, yous want to make them even more invisible past putting a dab of sealant over the top of them. If information technology's a bit messy, that'due south okay; you can sand it down one time the sealant dries.

Annotation—this whole process is easiest if you lot use white baseboards and white sealant, because everything only blends perfectly. Otherwise, if they're unlike colors (similar natural wood baseboards) you'll take to pigment it all to match at the end.

Voila! Beautiful, make clean looking baseboards.

Quarter round molding

Information technology's really not hard at all in one case you become going. I started on the wall behind our bed just in case I had whatever major screw-ups, which was a dandy manner to get the hang of information technology before moving on to more visible walls.

New molding takes an unfinished room and makes information technology feel clean and polished! To see what led upwards to this point, check out my full post on installing laminate floors.