How to Mitre Cut Quarter Round Wood Molding

Quarter round molding is a thin strip of wood or composite material with a curved face. It is most commonly used to conceal the lines where floors meet walls. This allows the builder to hide imperfections on the edges of flooring materials such as hardwoods, tile and vinyl. It also provides a visual transition from wall space to floor space. When installing quarter round molding, you will need to miter cut it at the corners.

Things You'll Need

• Quarter round molding
• Measuring tape
• Pencil
• Miter saw
• Coping saw

Instructions

1. Measure the length of the wall where you will install the quarter round molding. Transfer this measurement to the molding, marking it on the back side.

2. Place the molding in the miter box with the rounded part facing you. Line up the mark on the molding with the center mark on the miter box.

3. Note the configuration of adjoining walls. If one side is an outside corner, you will need to set the miter 45 degrees out (the face length is longer than the side touching the wall). If it is an inside corner, set the miter 45 degrees in (the face length is shorter than the wall length).

4. Lower the saw blade and cut through the quarter round molding at the angle you have set.

5. Cut the mitered edge with a coping saw to fine tune the angle if your walls are not perfectly square. You can cut away small amounts of molding with a coping saw until the rounded edges match at the corners.

Tips & Warnings

• Always wear protective eyewear and gloves when mitering quarter round molding to prevent injury.

References

• Ask the Builder: Quarter Round Molding