How to Install Quarter-Round or Shoe Molding Trim

Shoe molding or base shoe molding is a decorative finishing touch for baseboards. This small, thin strip of molding is painted to match the baseboard trim, fitting into the right angle (or gap) created by the floor and wall’s baseboard. It’s similar to quarter-round baseboard trim, which is similar in height but not as rounded.

Without a baseboard or shoe molding, the gap between the wall and floor could look unsightly, and homes would experience energy-wasting drafts from these corner gaps. Shoe molding and quarter-round molding are inexpensive, easy-to-install solutions that replace an ugly strip of caulk sometimes used to fill the gap. Installation is made easier by using an electric brad nailer. This tool will automatically set or recess the small finish nails you need for shoe molding or quarter-round trim and can significantly speed up your work.

Quarter-Round Trim vs. Shoe Molding

Two types of molding can be used: quarter-round or shoe molding. After installation, both will look similar, though their profiles are different. 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 a nail gun rather than glue. Nailing ensures a snug, consistent fit and allows you to access the area underneath the trim if necessary.

Quarter-Round

As the name indicates, a quarter-round molding will appear to be one-quarter of a full circle, with both flat faces the same width when viewed from the end. The length that the quarter-round protrudes from the wall is the same as its height.

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.

Shoe Molding

Shoe molding is not as rounded as quarter-round molding. Its reduced protrusion affords a bit more flooring room and gives the trim a more finished look as it appears to hug the baseboard.

Types of Quarter-Round and Shoe Molding

Molding can be made from wood, MDF, and synthetics like foam, plastic, and rubber. Wood is the most commonly used material and can be the most expensive depending on the wood type. Depending on the material, they are stored as long, rigid strips or flexible spools

Long, Rigid Strips

Materials like wood, MDF, and polystyrene are rigid and sold in long, thin, plank-like strips. Shoe molding and quarter-round trim moldings start as long round dowels that are then rip-cut and milled into their respective shapes. 

They are stocked in long lengths and racked vertically at the home improvement store or lumber center. This extra-long length works well, so you can use full-length pieces to cover most walls.

• Wood: Pine is a common softwood used for trim. It can be clear-coated, stained, or painted, giving a warm rustic look. It’s the least expensive wood species, averaging about $1.50 per linear foot. Oak is the most common hardwood used; it has a distinctive grain and can be clear-coated, painted, or stained for a deeper, richer wood tone. It costs about $3 to $5 per linear square foot. Maple, cherry, and mahogany are the most expensive wood species used for baseboard molding, averaging $5 to $10 per linear foot.
• MDF (medium-density fiberboard): A composite material made from wood by-products, it often comes pre-primed, ready for installation and painting, if necessary. It is inexpensive, about $1 per linear foot.
• Polystyrene: Polystyrene is the lightest and least dense material, made of styrene polymers or “Styrofoam.” It is the cheapest material and does not hold up like other materials. It is also inexpensive, about $1.50 per linear foot.

Flexible Spools

Materials made of rubber and synthetic polymers, such as polyurethane and PVC, are considered “flexible trim.” These shoe and quarter-round moldings are thin and flexible, intended to bend and conform to the floor’s profile, and can be purchased in spools or coiled, making them easier to carry and unroll to cut to size and tack down.

• Rubber: Usually made of a high-quality aviation and medical grade rubber material, stable, soft, waterproof, high-temperature resistant, corrosion resistant, and easy to cut. It is the priciest of the flexible molding types, about $5 per linear foot.
• Polyurethane: This extruded foam material is inexpensive and much lighter than wood. It holds up to changing temperatures, moist environments, and outside locations. However, polyurethane can be damaged easily. It is inexpensive, about $1.50 per linear foot.
• PVC (polyvinyl chloride): A strong, rigid material that mimics wood’s look while ensuring moisture protection. It won’t crack or chip but is prone to getting brittle in cold temperatures. It is the least expensive of the flexible molding types, costing about $1 per linear foot.

Pre-Finish the Trim (Optional)

Paint quarter-round or shoe trim before or after installation—there’s no right or wrong way. Most carpenters like to finish the long trim pieces before measuring, cutting, and installing them—either by painting or applying stain and varnish. Painting before tacking down is considerably easier than finishing the quarter-round or shoe molding after it is nailed down. Some touch-up work will be needed after the trim is installed, but this can be done with a brush. A downside of pre-finishing is that you may have nail holes you’ll need to fill in.

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 paint or stain as desired.

If staining, make sure to choose a stain-grade hardwood base-shoe or quarter-round molding, preferably the same species of wood as your baseboards or floors. Pine or other softwoods are suitable for painting but do not take stains very well. 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.