Installing Molding For Under Cabinet Lighting

By Robert Robillard on Uncategorized

Installing Molding for Under Cabinet Lighting

My family and I spent the weekend with some good friends at their ski house in Woodstock NH.

Since I’m still technically recovering from rotator cuff surgery I did not want to risk falling and damaging the repair, while the wife and kids were skiing, I stayed back and did a little finish carpentry for my friends.

This was my view as I was setting up my tools. Tough huh?

Cabinet Molding for Under mount lights

Today’s plan was to take some left over kitchen cabinet trim my friends had and make a light rail molding to finish off the cabinets’ bottom edge.

The picture below is an example of the extra material they had. This trim is installed over the sink and is an example of the left over material that we had.

Using this material as the light rail is perfect since it matches the trim elsewhere exactly!



Having traveled with my hand tools only, I set up a work site with their tools.

“Putting it all on the table,” took on a new meaning!

A little unorthodox I admit, but I set up their saw and saw dust vacuum on the kitchen table.  I turned the vacuum on every time I cut to reduce saw dust.

Not a thing I normally do and something that most customers would kill me for if I did, but this is what we had to work with and they suggested it.

Before leaving my house in Concord I ripped the extra cabinet trim on my table saw to the profile below.  This profile will allow the trim to fit under the cabinet and overlap the outside edge leaving no seam.

It will also finish off the bottom of the cabinet and help hide the under cabinet lighting.

Below the light rail molding is applied to the front face of the cabinets bottom.

Above the kitchen sink where the cabinets return back into the wall I needed to glue in 1/2″ filler strips to accept the new molding.

Filler strips glued and clamped. To help hold the strips while the glue dried and to help me keep the project process moving I applied small brad nails, hidden from behind.

Front molding applied. Next is to install the return light rail molding.

Clamping miters can be tough. I wanted to avoid nailing this miter since it’s very visible and at eye level. Kitchen cabinets and moldings always look better without nail holes.

I was fortunate to be able to grab this miter and clamp it, allowing the construction adhesive to do it’s job.


It worked.

Return molding applied, filler strip is directly above it. The light molding gives these cabinets a nice termination point. Similar to a porch columns base.

Inside miter fits nice and snug. I use a small amount of construction adhesive along the molding where it meets the cabinet bottom as well as at all miters. Brad nails and finish nails hold the light rail [molding] in place.

The cabinets terminate at a window. Here I needed to return the molding back into itself to finish the molding properly. This is a tough spot since there is very little area to glue, fasten or clamp.

Finished look. I forgot to take a before picture, but you get the idea!

Angle showing return over sink, and left side inside corner.

If you enjoyed this post, please consider commenting or subscribing to receive my future posts via email

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

About the author

Robert Robillard

Carpenter / Remodeler / Editor

Rob Robillard is “The Concord Carpenter” Rob is a builder, general contractor, carpenter, woodworker, and editor of Concord Carpenter and ToolBoxBuzz As a General Contractor and carpenter, Rob owns and operates Concord Carpenter LLC. A full-service remodeling and construction company. Rob is a recognized leader in home building best practices and a source for how-to information for building professionals. On this website, Rob covers all aspects of home construction, building science, home improvement, woodworking, remodeling, and some of the best product and tool reviews. Rob is in charge of our Tool and Product Review series - Concord Carpenter Videos where we post all of our tool reviews and video tutorials. Rob approaches remodeling and building construction with a pragmatic and problem-solving approach. He enjoys using his knowledge and experience to help and educate building professionals as well as DIYers on best practices in the construction and remodeling industry. He's a strong advocate for "raising the bar" in the construction trades and promoting the trades to youth. #BeAMentor #Green2Great Craftsmanship, quality, and pride guide his journey on this channel The Concord Carpenter's motto: "Well done is better than well said!" : Read more about Rob

All posts by Robert »

Not what you're looking for?

Search for more articles here. Enter keywords like roof leak, bookcase, deck, etc to find your topic.

© Copyright 2019 A Concord Carpenter · All Rights Reserved