How to Install Quarter Round without a Nail Gun
Nail gun is an important component of every carpenter’s working dynamics whether it is for installing door trim or shoe molding. However, sometimes you fall into conditions when you don’t have any power tools available with you.
Such drastic circumstances call for knowing how to install quarter round without a nail gun. We can’t deny or disapprove the need for professional skill to handle this type of task without a nail gun but with practice and by following an accurate procedure, you’ll easily be skilled.
In this blog, we’ll be able to highlight a simple process of installing a quarter round.
Installing Quarter Round Without A Nail Gun
Most people think of it as a draining task as most of our lives depend on electronic equipment and power tools to make our lives easier.
Installation is all about the correct measurements of angle and edges of the base and giving it ample time to dry. We have come up with a smooth procedure to get a quarter round installed without putting in much effort. Also check out how to install door trim without nail gun.
The steps are listed as follows:
Gather the Equipment
We’ll start by picking up the tools and equipment we need for smoothly following the process. This step is crucial to keep you concentrated and focused so that you don’t have to run here and there after some minutes.
All you need is a hammer, jack saw, finishing nails, latex sealant and nail set.
Since most people are concerned about the nail set, it is a standard piece of tool that looks similar to a pencil but it is entirely made of metal.
It is used to imprint a hammer-shaped outlook so that the nails can easily fit into the molding. With this, nails can be engraved completely into the wall.
Cut the Molding
Start by measuring the round part of the wall and flooring in which you want to install the quarter round. You have to mark the surface so that you can cut the molding accordingly.
Use any blade or jack saw to cut at a tilted angle of 45°. The tilted angle is needed for making your trim completely set around the brink of the door.
Place The Molding Against The Wall
Firstly, it is wise to cut molding into sections so that you can check if it is accurate from time to time. You can leave little spaces between them to check so that you can easily apply the sealant for covering the flaws.
In case of flooring, the molding needs to be fit flat against it or else it can give an odd impression to your interiors.
Hammer or Glue the end
Once you have fitted the molding around the wall, you should hammer its ends to lay off the base. It is important to place the trim exactly around your door’s shape as only a minor mistake can ruin the entire interior of your house.
Most handymen lay the trim in its place properly and then start gluing it for fitting all the sides in a proper manner. Once you have managed to do this, you’ll be done for the day. Check out how to unjam a nail gun.
Drill Well-Aligned Nails
In this step, you have positioned the nail perfectly. You can easily do it with the help of nail sets available to you in multiple sizes. Choose the one which is lower in size than your actual nail.
Next, you can drill the nail all the way to the wall with the hammer focused with the direction of the nail set. You will need practice to get this step right and there’s a thorough chance of injury so you have to be fully focused.
If you think you’re not trained enough, you can always test your skills on any discarded wooden piece.
Carefully Apply Sealant
If you have used a hammer to seal the molding then there’s a chance of having space between the baseboard and the wall. You can easily cover it up by using any basic latex sealant. It may come a little sloppy so you can use a spatula or even your fingers to completely seal the deal.
Frequently Asked Questions
As we have reached the end of this tutorial, you must be having many questions rushing down your mind. Some of the commonly asked questions are answered as follows:
Do you actually need a nail gun for installing quarter round?
As useful as it sounds, a nail gun is the first and foremost choice for most carpenters. However, some of them even replace it with an air compressor to install the quarter-round.
In homes, you don’t necessarily have air compressors lying around so they usually get hands on regular tools including hammers and nail or glue to install the molding effectively.
What type of nails are needed to use while installing?
As per our suggestion, quarter round molding sticks well and is more durable when you use finishing nails for installing it. The benefit of these nails is that it is much smaller than normal making it easier to trim the edges.