Quarter round trim is a great finishing touch to your baseboards, but also can be used around your door trim. It neatly covers up the gap between the door trim or baseboard and the floor.
Quarter round is similar to shoe moldings and are quite affordable and easy to install. You can paint or stain the quarter round to match the aesthetic of your room.
Installing quarter-round around door trim is very similar to installing it on your baseboard, but you will need to be more accurate with your measurements to make sure the door still opens and closes properly. In short, the steps are:
- Measure
- Cut
- Paint / stain
- Drill
- Nail
- Finish
Let’s look into those steps in more detail.
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What Is Quarter-Round Trim?
Quarter-round trims are a popular technique for giving a nice finishing touch to any room. These are usually added to door frames measuring 1/4 by 1/4 inches.
The quarter-round trim molding is usually available in many wood types, including fir, oak, alder, and mahogany. It’s usually easy to fit the quarter-round around the woodwork in your house.
The quarter-trim has three sides, two being at a 90-degree angle and the third one with a curved smooth front. It is built flexibly so it can fit into corners and hide the gaps between a doorjamb and doorstop.
If a door has square sides, the quarter trim can give it a smooth and flowing look on the outside. Some doors already come with a built-in quarter-round trimming.
Is A Shoe Molding The Same As A Quarter Round?
Essentially, the purpose of a quarter round and shoe molding is the same. However, the quarter round is a different style and it always has the shape of a quarter of a circle.
What Angle Should You Cut The End Of The Quarter Round?
A quarter round is usually cut at an angle of 45 degrees.
You have to cut two joined pieces at the same angle in the same direction (left or right). The two joint pieces should fit together, forming a straight line. The corners are usually at a 90-degree angle.
Is It Better To Use Glue Or Nails For A Quarter-Round?
It is better to use nails to attach the quarter round to the base boards. If you want the option of replacing it in the future, it is better to avoid using glue.
However, you should not nail the quarter round to the floor. Rather, it should be nailed into brick.
There should also be some room for the floor to move so that it permits expansion and contraction under the quarter round.
How To Install Quarter-Round Around A Door Trim?
1. Measure The Area Around The Door
Most doors in a house have a standard size, but you still should measure each door as the slightest difference matters. Start by taking an accurate measurement of the door all around. The quarter trim will be cut according to these measurements.
Use a measuring tape, and measure the inside and outside corners as well as the side’s length. Add about 1/2 inches to the actual measurements if the inside and outside corners are around 3/4 inches.
2. Choose The Molding Material
Depending on the color of the area around the door, you should choose a matching molding color. This will give a pleasing look to the room.
3. Cut The Quarter Round
Now, use a saw to cut the corners of the quarter trim at a 45-degree angle. A miter saw is good for the purpose but you can also use a hand-saw.
There is also a dedicated tool specifically for cutting quarter-round trim and moldings. This is our favorite here.
Alternatively, you can choose to buy the quarter trim in your required measurements. Then, you can trim it.
4. Stain And Paint Quarter-Round
Using semi-gloss paint, you can stain the quarter-round to match the door-frame color. A semi-gloss paint gives a very nice-looking finish. Plus, it also dries quickly. You can also paint the quarter-round to cover the nails.
5. Mark Spots For Nails
Now place the quarter round above the door and mark the spots where you will be drilling the nails.
6. Drill A Hole
You can mark the spots with a pencil, and then drill a hole where the marks are. It is recommended to use a drill slightly smaller than the nails so the nails won’t have any wiggle room.
The pilot holes should be drilled at a downward angle of 35 to 45 degrees. For better performance, you may want to use an electric drill, but a manual drill works fine too.
7. Nail The Quarter Round
Now, place the quarter rounds against the wall and hammer the nails through the pilot holes you made. An easier way to do this is using a nail gun and compressor that will also give a better finish, but we realize not everyone has access to this.
8. Give Finishing Touches
To give the quarter round a perfect finishing touch, you can take the following steps:
- If there are any uneven areas or gaps, fill them up and smoothen the uneven areas of the quarter round. For smoothening the area, you can use caulk, filler, and a 180 grit sandpaper.
- Once you are done with the blending, remove any debris with a damp rag.
- You can also cover up the nails using wood putty.
