Installation Guide

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Artistic Finishes, Inc. / 2224 Terminal Road / Roseville, MN 55113 / 888-816-5606 / www.artisticfinishes.com
Installing Wall Base Moldings with a Glue Down/Nail Down Floor
Application – Borders the wood floor at the base of the wall to give
the room a finished look. This molding helps conceal the required
expansion space between the wall and the hardwood flooring. It is also
sometimes used under cabinet toe kicks.
Installation – Wall Base moldings should be installed after the
hardwood floor is in place. You must make allowances for an
expansion space between the floor and wall in accordance with the
hardwood flooring manufacturer’s recommendations. The molding
should be fastened to the wall (not the subfloor) to assure that the
contraction or expansion space for the floor is not restricted. Pre-drill
the molding to avoid splitting.
Helpful Tip: If the expansion space between the wall and the
hardwood floor is wider than the Wall Base molding, you will need to
use an Artistic Finishes Quarter Round or Base Shoe molding to
complete the job. In this case, place the lower nail securing the Wall
Base molding below the finished line of the Quarter Round or Base Shoe molding. By doing this, the Quarter Round molding
will cover the lower nail in the Wall Base molding and avoid the need to putty the lower nail holes.
Installing Quarter Round Moldings with a Glue Down/Nail Down Floor
Application – The Quarter Round is used in much the same manner as a
Wall Base molding to conceal the required expansion space between the
wall and the hardwood flooring. It is sometimes used under cabinet toe
kicks where a Wall Base won’t fit or at the base of a stair to provide a
subtle blend between the floor and the wall or vertical surface. Adding
the Quarter Round in front of a Wall Base softens the transition and adds
a decorative touch.
Installation – Quarter Round moldings should be installed after the
hardwood floor is in place. You must make allowances for an expansion
space between the wall and floor in accordance with the hardwood
flooring manufacturer’s recommendations. The molding should be
fastened to the wall (not the subfloor) to assure that the contraction or
expansion space for the floor is not restricted. Pre-drill the molding to
avoid splitting.