My hardwood floors used to have carpet, so there are gaps beneath the "ranch"-style baseboards. Most of these gaps are covered with quarter-round molding, which probably draws more attention to the gap than the gap itself would. I'd like to remove the quarter-round molding and keep the "ranch" base molding. Is there another way to fill/cover that gap? What about filling it with caulk or drywall mud?
asked Apr 11, 2012 at 17:18
-
1You could always remove the molding, and reinstall it at the desired height.– Tester101Commented Apr 11, 2012 at 17:31
-
@Tester101- That sounds like an answer.– auujayCommented Apr 11, 2012 at 18:00
-
That is my current plan. But before I go through with it, I came here to see if there's a better way. If the molding is glued on, this will become a big project.– ArgentoSapiensCommented Apr 11, 2012 at 18:12
-
Unfortunately I've seen baseboards glued and nailed, so the concern is valid. If that is the case I would remove the quarter-round (if it is true quarter-round) and install a shoe molding which will be thinner and taller and is designed for exactly this job. To make it blend in, stain it the same color as your floor. Failing that, make sure it's exactly the same color as the baseboards, or else yes, it will stick out like a sore thumb.– KeithSCommented Apr 11, 2012 at 19:25
-
1Use of either caulk or drywall mud will look terrible as a "filler"! You would be sorry if you tried that, and be left asking a new question here, how do I remove caulk/drywall mud from a place it does not belong?– user558Commented Apr 12, 2012 at 8:32
Add a comment
|
1 Answer
Quarter round and shoe molding are two different things.
Quarter round is just that...one quarter of a circle. Shoe molding, on the other hand, is much flatter with a rounded top.
Lots of people install quarter round when they intended to install shoe molding instead.
Choose shoe molding over quarter round whenever possible, as it looks better.
As for your question, it sounds like your baseboard and shoe molding is 'floating' above the floor. The best solution would be to simply remove the baseboard and molding and put up new stuff (or if the original stuff is of a particularly good finish/quality, then out it back)
If you don't want to remove the baseboard itself, you could remove the quarter round and then look for trim pieces that can act like a shoe molding but a bit taller so that they cover the gap. Visit your local big-box hardware store and you'll find an entire aisle of molding styles to choose from.
If the gap is especially large, you may want to use a molding to cover the gap, then a shoe molding at the bottom of that to create a built-up baseboard.
-
Thanks for clarifying the specific meaning of the "shoe molding" term. I'll update the question. There is no gap between the quarter-round molding and the floor, but in @KeithS's words, it sticks out like a sore thumb. Commented Apr 11, 2012 at 20:44
-
ah, if that's the case, then maybe just pull out quarter round and replace with proper shoe molding (finished to match).– DA01Commented Apr 11, 2012 at 20:55