FHB Logo Facebook LinkedIn Email Pinterest Twitter X Instagram Tiktok YouTube Plus Icon Close Icon Navigation Search Icon Navigation Search Icon Arrow Down Icon Video Guide Icon Article Guide Icon Modal Close Icon Guide Search Icon Skip to content
Subscribe
Log In
  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Restoration
  • Videos
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House
  • Podcast
Log In

Fine Homebuilding Project Guides

Finish & Trim Carpentry

Guide Home
  • Trim Design
  • Tools and Materials
  • Interior Trim Basics
  • Window and Door Casings
  • Baseboard and Crown Molding
  • Wainscot and Paneling
  • Mantels and Fireplace Surrounds
  • Coffered Ceilings
SPEC

Bendable Trim for Curved Walls and Doorways

Choose from thousands of trim profiles in Carter Millwork‘s collection of flexible moldings.

By Lana Melonakos-Harrison Issue 303 - November 2021
  • X
  • facebook
  • linkedin
  • pinterest
  • email
  • add to favorites Log in or Sign up to save your favorite articles

Crisp lines and precise angles are common signs of a well-executed construction project, but there is something about an arched doorway or window or a subtly curved staircase that will never go out of style. Creating flexible wood trim for these features, however, requires resources, know-how, and time that can be a challenge to many builders and carpenters trying to complete a project on schedule.

Carter Millwork makes curved trim details much more accessible with its several lines of bendable molding—Flex Trim, ZZZ Flex, Ultra-Flex, and Machinable S4S—each designed to meet the needs of specific types of projects. Made of flexible polyurethane, these trim options are resistant to moisture and can be matched to the original grain of wood you are working with. To find the specific molding you are looking for, you can peruse the thousands of profiles on their website or send in images to get the right match. Molding lengths typically come in foot-long increments between 4 ft. and 12 ft. and are shipped in boxes or on pallets, but longer lengths are available and can be shipped in spools due the flexibility of the material.

Coileed light wood trim

For installation, common woodworking tools work just fine with this trim, and pieces should be fastened with a combination of construction adhesive and narrow finish nails or screws. Also, Carter Millwork recommends using a gel stain if you’re planning to stain rather than paint the trim.

Pricing is dependent on the profile and material choice, so it is best to contact the manufacturer for an accurate quote. 

Photos courtesy of the manufacturer.

From Fine Homebuilding #303


RELATED LINKS

  • Trimming Curved Stairs
  • Laminating Curved Stair Stringers
  • Trim Out a Curved Bay Window
Previous: Tips for Choosing and Using Lumber and Sheet Goods Next: Hollow Reclaimed Pine

Guide

Finish & Trim Carpentry

Chapter

Tools and Materials

Sign up for eletters today and get the latest how-to from Fine Homebuilding, plus special offers.

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Log in or create an account to post a comment.

Sign up Log in

Become a member and get full access to FineHomebuilding.com

Finish & Trim Carpentry

Finish & Trim Carpentry

Trusted, comprehensive guidance from the pros for creating perfect trim details in any room of the house

View Project Guide

View All Project Guides »

Become a member and get unlimited site access, including the Finish & Trim Carpentry Project Guide.

Start Free Trial

Trim Design
  • Trim Style and Design
Tools and Materials
  • Tools
  • Materials
Interior Trim Basics
  • Tips and Tricks
  • Techniques
  • Using Jigs
Window and Door Casings
  • Windows
  • Doors
Baseboard and Crown Molding
  • Baseboard
  • Crown Molding
  • Specialty Crown Situations
Wainscot and Paneling
  • Beadboard Wainscot
  • Paneled Wainscot
  • Chair Rails
  • Wall Treatments
Mantels and Fireplace Surrounds
  • Design
  • Installing Mantels and Surrounds
Coffered Ceilings

Fine Home Building

Newsletter Sign-up

  • Fine Homebuilding

    Home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox.

  • Green Building Advisor

    Building science and energy efficiency advice, plus special offers, in your inbox.

  • Old House Journal

    Repair, renovation, and restoration tips, plus special offers, in your inbox.

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters

Follow

  • Fine Homebuilding

    Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
    • LinkedIn
  • GBA Prime

    Get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
  • Old House Journal

    Learn how to restore, repair, update, and decorate your home.

    Subscribe Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
  • Fine Homebuilding

    Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
    • LinkedIn
  • GBA Prime

    Get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
  • Old House Journal

    Learn how to restore, repair, update, and decorate your home.

    Subscribe Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X

Membership & Magazine

  • Online Archive
  • Start Free Trial
  • Magazine Subscription
  • Magazine Renewal
  • Gift a Subscription
  • Customer Support
  • Privacy Preferences
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Careers
  • Terms of Use
  • Site Map
  • Do not sell or share my information
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility
  • California Privacy Rights

© 2025 Active Interest Media. All rights reserved.

Fine Homebuilding receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

  • Home Group
  • Antique Trader
  • Arts & Crafts Homes
  • Bank Note Reporter
  • Cabin Life
  • Cuisine at Home
  • Fine Gardening
  • Fine Woodworking
  • Green Building Advisor
  • Garden Gate
  • Horticulture
  • Keep Craft Alive
  • Log Home Living
  • Military Trader/Vehicles
  • Numismatic News
  • Numismaster
  • Old Cars Weekly
  • Old House Journal
  • Period Homes
  • Popular Woodworking
  • Script
  • ShopNotes
  • Sports Collectors Digest
  • Threads
  • Timber Home Living
  • Traditional Building
  • Woodsmith
  • World Coin News
  • Writer's Digest
Active Interest Media logo
X
X
This is a dialog window which overlays the main content of the page. The modal window is a 'site map' of the most critical areas of the site. Pressing the Escape (ESC) button will close the modal and bring you back to where you were on the page.

Main Menu

  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Video
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Project Guides
  • Reader Projects
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Popular Topics

  • Kitchens
  • Business
  • Bedrooms
  • Roofs
  • Architecture and Design
  • Green Building
  • Decks
  • Framing
  • Safety
  • Remodeling
  • Bathrooms
  • Windows
  • Tilework
  • Ceilings
  • HVAC

Magazine

  • Current Issue
  • Past Issues
  • Magazine Index
  • Subscribe
  • Online Archive
  • Author Guidelines

All Access

  • Member Home
  • Start Free Trial
  • Gift Membership

Online Learning

  • Courses
  • Project Guides
  • Reader Projects
  • Podcast

More

  • FHB Ambassadors
  • FHB House
  • Customer Support

Account

  • Log In
  • Join

Newsletter

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Follow

  • X
  • YouTube
  • instagram
  • facebook
  • pinterest
  • Tiktok

Join All Access

Become a member and get instant access to thousands of videos, how-tos, tool reviews, and design features.

Start Your Free Trial

Subscribe

FHB Magazine

Start your subscription today and save up to 70%

Subscribe

This is your last free article.

Don't miss another expert tip or technique from building pros. Start your free trial today.

Start your FREE trial

Already a member? Log in

We hope you’ve enjoyed your free articles. To keep reading, become a member today.

Get complete site access to expert advice, how-to videos, Code Check, and more, plus the print magazine.

Start your FREE trial

Already a member? Log in

Privacy Policy Update

We use cookies, pixels, script and other tracking technologies to analyze and improve our service, to improve and personalize content, and for advertising to you. We also share information about your use of our site with third-party social media, advertising and analytics partners. You can view our Privacy Policy here and our Terms of Use here.

Cookies

Analytics

These cookies help us track site metrics to improve our sites and provide a better user experience.

Advertising/Social Media

These cookies are used to serve advertisements aligned with your interests.

Essential

These cookies are required to provide basic functions like page navigation and access to secure areas of the website.

Delete My Data

Delete all cookies and associated data