Floor Or Baseboard First

There are two reasons for this gap which is generally required by building codes.

Floor or baseboard first. It will eventually be a rental property so i am thinking of baseboards laminate planks then quarter round to hide the gap. Start at an inside corner. So for 8 ft walls perhaps 7 inch crown 5 inch baseboard and 3 5 door trim. The secret weapon replaces your usual cutting in applicator when painting the area of a wall nearest the trim or baseboard.

Or lay laminate planks first then baseboards. Also if you put the flooring in first the baseboard can rest on top of the flooring and get a much better fit. If you plan to install baseboard moulding before adding carpet it needs to be installed 1 inch above floor level to allow room for both pad and carpet. There s a high probability that your new flooring won t exactly match the height.

If it is installed with the tile up to the baseboard trim then you should leave about a 1 8 gap that you should fill will caulking. Work on your floors first if your gutted room has baseboards that are still in place. Builders prefer to do the baseboards first and then bring the tile right up to the tile. Plus painting the walls first offers near instant gratification.

I know your painter is going to argue with that. It s really the correct order to do things. But i ve told you why. The baseboard at the bottom of a wall should always be installed slightly raised from the floor s surface.

Hold the first board against the wall level it then temporarily tack it in place. Regarding size of baseboard crown and door trim i have beautiful 9 inch crown 6 inch baseboard and 3 5 inch door trim all larger than standard sizes for 9 ft walls. Match the baseboard outside the room as seen in the first picture. Flooring goes on first then baseboards is installed when installing hardwood you want to leave 1 4 to 3 8 gap from wall to flooring for expansion and movement if hardwood or engineered is installed too tight squeaking will occur then the baseboard goes on to hide the gap between flooring wall.