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Hardwood Floor Moldings. Types, Uses, Where?

 
What Kind Of Moldings Do I Need?

Types of moldings will depend on what type of installation you're dealing with. For instance, a floor that will be sanded and finished onsite generally does not come with actual moldings. Often the installer will cut the trim moldings from the actual hardwood being used to a desired shape with a table saw. Once the installer leaves it's up to the floor finisher to smooth and shape them. Stair nosing, baseboard and or quarter round excluded.

Prefinished Floors

Nearly all major prefinished flooring manufacturers provide color coordinated trim moldings. Some may notArtistic Finishes manufacturer their own, but passing off their needs to a company that specializes in trim moldings only. The illustrations below are provided by Artistic Finishes whose products can only be obtained through flooring dealers. A complete list of hardwood species can be seen at the bottom of the page.

1

 

 

 

T Molding

Name: T-Molding
General Uses: The molding is used mostly between tiled surfaces and wood floors. Also used for connecting to existing wood floors
General Measurements:
 
Width: 2"
Height: 5/8"
Lengths: 78 inches
2

 

 

 

Reducer

Name: Reducer, One Sided Reducer, Flush Reducer
General Uses: Used mostly with floor coverings of lower vertical heights such as vinyl, or concrete. Sometimes used around fireplaces and other fixed objects while becoming more of a design aspect than anything.
General Measurements:
 
Width: 2"
Height: will vary with thickness of flooring.
Lengths: 78 inches
3

 

 

 

Overlap reducer

Name: Overlap Reducer
General Uses: Used mostly with floating floors to other floor coverings with lower vertical heights. Also used to transition carpet and floating floors.
General Measurements:
 
Width: 2 1/4"
Height: will vary with thickness of flooring.
Lengths: 78 inches
4

 

 

 

Bi-level reducer

Name: Bi-level Reducer
General Uses: Used for transitioning solid 3/4" hardwood floors to lower vertical heights such as ceramic tile. Can also be used with carpeting.
General Measurements:
 
Width: 2 1/4"
Height: 3/4"
Lengths: 78 inches
5

 

 

 

Baby threshold

Name: Baby Threshold, Threshold
General Uses: Common uses included at sliding door areas where expansion is needed. Can also be used to transition with carpet.
General Measurements:
 
Width: 2 1/8"
Height: 7/8"- other heights available. Bottom tab varies with thickness.
Lengths: 78 inches
6

 

 

 

End cap, square nose reducer

Name: End Cap, Square Nose
General Uses: Similar functions as a baby threshold provides.
General Measurements:
 
Width: 1 9/16"
Height: 7/8"
Lengths: 78 inches
7

 

 

 

Overlap stair nosing

Name: Overlap Stair Nosing, Bull Nose
General Uses: Used with some floating floors on steps and landing areas where expansion areas is needed.
General Measurements:
 
Width: 3 1/4"
Height: 1"- other heights available.
Lengths: 78 inches
8

 

 

 

Flush stair nosing

Name: Flush/Square edge Stair Nosing, Bull Nose
General Uses: Used for transition when placing plank or strip on stairs, landings or step downs.
General Measurements:
 
Width: 3 1/8"
Height: 13/16"- will vary with other floor thicknesses
Lengths: 78 inches
9

 

 

 

Quarter round molding

Name: Quarter Round
General Uses: Used against baseboard, toe kicks, and other fixed objects.
General Measurements:
 
Width: 3/4"
Height: 3/4"
Lengths: 84 inches
10

 

 

 

Shoe molding

Name: Shoe Molding
General Uses: Similar functions as quarter round provides but has a less pronounced appearance.
General Measurements:
 
Width: 1/2"
Height: 3/4"
Lengths: 84 inches
11

 

 

 

Wall base, baseboard

Name: Wall Base, Baseboard
General Uses: Installed on finished wall where expansion space is needed.
General Measurements:
 
Width: 7/16"
Height: 3 1/2"
Lengths: 84 inches

General Notes

Not all prefinished manufactured products offer all of the trim moldings above. More common trim moldings offered are number 1,2,5, 8, and 9. While most trim moldings are 78 inches in length, some products manufactured outside

the USA will be longer. Additionally all profile dimensions shown above may vary. This should not to be used as a definitive guide in how much you will actually need.

Few manufacturers produce prefinished stair treads and risers. Often the best alternative is to purchase them and have them stained and or finished on site.

Custom Moldings

Not happy with the shorter lengths offered by many prefinished manufacturers? Some moldings shown above can be duplicated with the use of a table saw or shaper after one obtains longer material. The only disadvantage is matching the finish should it be stained.

Installers

If you happen to be hunting for a hardwood installer and should visit a job or two, pay close attention to how the hardwood moldings were installed.  We're talking about transition areas that may go from hardwood to carpet or the actual quarter round or shoe molding that is installed against the baseboard. There's a lot you can learn about an installer by looking at the finer parts of the job and not just the floor from a distance.

 
 
 
Harwood Species Offered:
 
Acacia
African Cedar
African Cherry
African Ebony
African Ipe
African Jatoba
African Mahogany
African Oak
African Paduak
African Pearwood
African Rosewood
African Walnut
Afromosia
Alder
Amendoim/Brazilian Oak
Andiroba/Royal Mahogany
Anegre
Anegre- Qtr Sawn
Angelique
Asian Cherry
Asian Mahogany
Asian Maple
Asian Pine
Asian Rosewood
Asian Teak
Asian Walnut
Ash(White)
Australian Cypress
Australian Jarrah
Avodire

Balau
Bamboo (Vert/Horiz)
Bamboo Carbonized
Bangkirai
Beech

 

 

 


Birch
Birch (Red)
Black Cherry
Bloodwood
Bolivian Rosewood/Morado
Brazilian Cherry/Jatoba
Brazilian Chestnut
Brazilian Garapa
Brazilian Hickory
Brazilian Mahogany
Brazilian Maple
Brazilian Oak/Amendoim
Brazilian Redwood
Brazilian Teak/Cumaru
Brazilian Walnut/Ipe
Bubinga
Burmese Teak

Cabreuva/Santos Mahogany
Caribbean Cherry
Caribbean Rosewood
Caribbean Walnut/Tzalam
Cherry
Chestnut
Chilean Cherry/Coigue
Copaiba
Cumaru/Brazilian Teak
Curatinga Mahogany
Curupixa
Cypress

Doussie

Ebony

 

 

 

 

Guajava

Hickory/Pecan
Honduran Pine

Imbuia
Ipe
Iroko
Ironwood
Ivorywood

Jatoba/Brazilian Cherry
Jequitiba

Kambala
Karri
Kayu Kuku
Kempas
Kupay

Lapacho
Larch

Mahogany
Maple
Maple (Red)
Melia
Merbau
Morado/Bolivian Rosewood
Muiracatiara
Mutenye

Nyatoh

Padauk
Panga Panga

 

 

Red Cumaru
Red Oak
Red River Gum
Rosewood

Sakura
Santa Maria
Santos Mahogany/Cabreuva
Santos Oak
Sapele
South Pacific Cherry
Southern Chestnut
Southern Pine

Tamarindo

Walnut
Wenge

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

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