How to Splice Shoe Molding
When a wall is longer than your longest available piece of shoe molding, you need to join two pieces together. A proper splice joint — called a scarf joint — creates a nearly invisible seam that blends in with the rest of the molding once finished.
What Is a Scarf Joint?
A scarf joint is made by cutting the ends of two pieces at matching opposing angles (typically 30 to 45 degrees). When the angled ends overlap, the joint is long and thin rather than a blunt square butt. This makes the seam much less visible because the joint line is angled and can be sanded and finished seamlessly.
How to Cut a Scarf Joint
- Set your miter saw to 30 or 45 degrees
- Cut the end of the first piece with the angle going in one direction
- Cut the beginning of the second piece with the matching opposite angle
- The two angled cuts should overlap so one slides over the other
- Test fit the joint — the faces should mate flush with no gap on the visible surface
Installing a Scarf Joint
- Install the first piece and nail it in place
- Apply a small amount of wood glue to the angled face of the joint
- Position the second piece so the angled end overlaps the first piece cleanly
- Nail through both pieces at the joint to hold them together
- If possible, position the joint over a wall stud for the strongest nailing surface
- Fill any visible seam with wood filler and sand smooth once dry
Placement Tips
- Position scarf joints away from eye level or high-traffic sight lines when possible
- On a very long wall, center the joint rather than putting it near one end
- Avoid placing joints near corners — they should be on straight runs only
- If you need more than one joint on the same wall, space them as far apart as possible
Avoid Butt Joints: A square butt joint (two pieces cut straight and pushed together end-to-end) is always visible and tends to open up over time as the wood shrinks. Always use a scarf joint for joining shoe molding on straight runs. The few extra seconds of angled cutting are worth it.