What Is Scribe Molding? (And Why Your Cabinets May Need It!)
Imagine you’ve chosen the perfect kitchen cabinets for your renovation. They are the exact color and design you envisioned for your aesthetic. You spent hours agonizing over websites and catalogs.
Now they’re installed, and you notice an ugly gap between the back of your cabinets and the wall they’re mounted on. You didn’t account for this! Not to worry. There’s a little secret called scribe molding that will make the job look complete!
Scribe molding is a thin, flexible strip of wooden molding that is attached to the top or side of cabinets. It adds the finishing touch by hiding any gaps or uneven surfaces between the cabinets and the wall or ceiling. Scribe molding is commonly used on cabinets that are mounted on brick, stone, or cinderblock walls.
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What’s in a Name?
Scribe molding…it’s kind of a weird name. Where did it even come from?
You have to think of scribe molding like a jigsaw puzzle. In order to trim the wood to match the molding to the uneven surface it will attach to, you have to inscribe the wood with the contours of the wall. Because of its flexibility, scribe molding contours perfectly against small inconsistencies in the wall’s surface.
The molding is usually straight on the side the meets the wall and curved on the other side to fit against the cabinets.
Scribe molding is often used in place of other types of molding—like dentil or crown. It is an inexpensive option that still provides and simple, clean look to your cabinets.
Do You Really Need Scribe Molding?
While scribe molding is not a kitchen necessity, it does add the finishing touch to the final product. I don’t have scribe molding in my kitchen, but I wish I did! There are unsightly gaps and cracks in our plaster walls that stick out against our hard-won renovation work.
In many older homes (like mine), the wall surfaces are uneven. Factory-made cabinets have sleek, straight lines that won’t contour to an uneven wall. Scribe moulding can be installed to hide the gaps left behind. You can also use scribe molding to cap any raw, unfinished edges of the wood on the cabinets.
If you want your cabinets to look as if they’re growing out of the wall, then scribe molding is the way to go. I’ll definitely be adding some to my kitchen!
How to Trim Scribe Molding
Each piece of scribe molding has to be custom-trimmed, especially if you’re working against an uneven surface. The contours of the wall can change ever so slightly. So it’s important to be precise with your measurements.
The best tool to trim scribe molding is a jigsaw or another saw fit for fine detail work such as a slender belt saw.
When marking the pattern, you should use a common compass—the kind you used in math class to draw circles. The compass allows you to mark the inconsistencies in the wall and transfer that shape to the molding.
Steps for Trimming Scribe Molding
- Place the scribe molding against the wall. Line it up exactly where you want it to go.
- Looking at the visible edge of the moulding, locate the deepest recess of the wall’s contouring. Place your compass so the pencil is at the edge of the wood. (Note: a grease pencil is best for marking darkly stained or painted surfaces.)
- Keeping the compass’s point against the wall, trace the contour of the wall or ceiling onto the wood.
- Using your jigsaw or other fine-detail saws, trim along the line you drew on the wood. The wall’s contour may be slightly different across the thickness of the wood. So it’s best to angle your saw inward slightly. Around 10 degrees is enough.
- Once the cabinets are installed and you know their exact location, you can trim the other end with a straight cut.
How to Install Scribe Molding
Once you’ve installed the cabinets and custom-trimmed the molding, it’s time to install the scribe molding. For this example, we’ll assume you’re installing the moulding along the side of an end cabinet.
- Locate the seam between the back of the cabinet and the wall, and position the moulding there.
- Fit the flat side against the cabinet and make sure the edge fits neatly against the wall. The molding is designed to give slightly in order to conform to any minor imperfections in the wall.
- At this point, the mould should be trimmed so that it aligns with the top and bottom of the cabinet. Now, attach the molding to the wall using a pin gun or micro pinner. Use an 18-gauge pin or something smaller.
- Place one pin roughly ½ inch from the top of the moulding. Another pin should be placed the same distance from the bottom. Each additional pin should be placed 4 to 6 inches apart in the center of the moulding.
- Repeat anywhere else the back of a cabinet meets the wall.
- If needed, sand the bottom of the molding until it is flush with the cabinet.
- Fill in any pinholes with wood putty.
- Stain or paint the scribe moulding to match the wood.
Related Questions
We’ve covered much of the basics about scribe molding—what it is, how to use it, and how to install it. But you may still have more questions. Here are some other things people wanted to know about scribe molding.
What are the dimensions of scribe molding?Scribe molding generally comes in 96 inch pieces, which are then cut on-site. The most common width of scribe molding is ¾ inch. However, it can be cut larger or smaller depending on the size of the gap that needs to be covered.
What’s the difference between scribe molding and quarter round?Scribe molding and quarter round have similar functions but for different purposes. Scribe moulding is meant to hide the gap between the wall and a cabinet. Quarter round hides the gap between the baseboard and the floor. Quarter round is usually thicker than scribe moulding.
Is the molding on top of my cabinet scribe moulding?It can be, though crown molding is more often used on top of cabinets to add a decorative touch. Crown moulding has many different style options whereas scribe molding is simple and functional. You can use crown molding at the top of a cabinet to hide any gaps while also adding decoration. Scribe would still be the molding of choice for covering the seam between the cabinet and wall.
Can you glue molding?Nailing is always the most secure way to attach any molding. However, if you must glue, it’s best to do so on an unpainted surface using wood glue.
To glue moulding, first, run a thin bead of wood glue along the interior of the trim. Press and hold the trim for at least 10 seconds. If the trim won’t stay in place, put a piece of masking tape on the stubborn section to secure it.
If you want to ensure the strongest bond, attach a clamp to hold the trim in place. After opening the cabinet door, use the inside as a lever for the clamp. Leave it for about an hour.
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Summing It Up
Adding scribe molding to your kitchen will give a clean, professional look to your cabinets. It truly is the finishing touch in cabinet installation. Scribe molding hides those ghastly-looking gaps that occur between the back of your cabinet and an uneven wall surface.
The uneven surface may come from your choice of wall materials, such as brick or stone. Or it may simply be that your home is older. Either way, scribe moulding can make all the difference.
Installing scribe molding isn’t difficult. Just make sure you have the proper tools for trimming and watch your kitchen transform!
Brigid Levi is a wife, mother, and freelance writer who enjoys a good DIY project and creating beautiful spaces within her home. From cleaning and organization hacks to home decor ideas, she loves helping people in their quest to turn a house into a home. Her hobbies include pretending to be Joanna Gaines while updating her home with her husband and performing in local theater productions.
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