It’s similar to quarter-round baseboard trim, which is similar in height but not as rounded.

Installation is made easier by using an electricbrad nailer.

After installation, both will look similar, though their profiles are different.

Baseboard shoe molding

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Carpenters like to use these bottom trim pieces because they reduce the need for complicated baseboard scribe cuts.

Professionals prefer to attach shoe molding with anail gunrather than glue.

The length that the quarter-round protrudes from the wall is the same as its height.

Shoe molding tools

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Another way to think of quarter-round molding is to imagine a round dowel.

From the end, the dowel is cut into four pie pieces.

Each resulting piece would be a quarter-round.

Mark first trim on baseboard

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Shoe Molding

Shoe molding is not as rounded as quarter-round molding.

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Wood is the most commonly used material and can be the most expensive depending on the wood jot down.

Use miter saw to cut board

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They are stocked in long lengths and racked vertically at the home improvement store or lumber center.

Painting before tacking down is considerably easier than finishing the quarter-round or shoe molding after it is nailed down.

A downside of pre-finishing is that you may havenail holes you’ll need to fill in.

Test fit the first cut baseboard

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When using wooden molding, make them clean and smooth by giving them a light sanding.

Run a tack cloth down the length to remove sawdust.Apply paintor stain as desired.

Pine or other softwoods are suitable for painting but do not take stains very well.

Cut second baseboard

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When handling small molding, wiping on a stain with a rag is the easiest method.

Once the stain has dried, apply a top-coat varnish, following the manufacturer’s directions.

Let the finish dry completely before proceeding to installation.

Test fit second baseboard

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The following installation steps feature inside and outside miters to join pieces of moldings at the corners.

Cut the ends of the moldings at 45 degrees to make the 90-degree corners.

Use waste trim and experiment with getting a perfect fit by cutting different angles.

Nail baseboard to wall

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Instead, make this cut with a manual miter box and saw.

Finish the Installation

Create a return piece for end of baseboard

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Measure and mark return piece

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Cut return piece

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Glue return piece

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Flatten nails in baseboard

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