
How to Install Baseboard and Shoe Molding for Hardwood Floors
- Measuring For Baseboard and Shoe Molding and Selecting Size. In most installations, baseboard will cover every linear...
- Simple Joints – Along a Long Wall. When a wall is too long to use a single piece of baseboard, two boards must be joined...
- Inside Corners: Coping with Pain or Mitre and Run. Inside corners...
How to install baseboard like a pro?
Tackle The Problems (if any)
- For installing the baseboards on the walls that are not square, you have to adjust the angles.
- The best idea is to use a T bevel to figure out the angles for the corners of the wall.
- Alternatively, you can also use a scrap piece of board to fit perfectly and to adjust the angles.
- If you’ve accidentally cut the boards more then don’t panic. ...
How to install baseboard without nails?
How to install baseboard molding without a nail gun like a PRO
- Remove old baseboard and buy new. The first step is buying the baseboard. You should but the baseboard based on your choice and taste.
- Cut baseboard. After measuring, cut it down. You should carefully measure the room with the tape so that you get an accurate measurement and cut it properly.
- Install it. Now place the baseboard serially. ...
How to install baseboard molding, even on Crooked walls?
How to Install Baseboard Molding, Even on Crooked Walls
- Wall molding: Install great-looking baseboards on any problem wall.
- Introduction. ...
- Tools Required
- Materials Required. ...
- Glue Baseboard to the Wall. ...
- Caulk Gaps. ...
- Shim the Floor Gaps to Avoid Tilted Baseboards. ...
- Raise the Baseboard. ...
- Get Perfect Inside Corners. ...
- Square Up Outside Corners. ...
How to install bullnose tile baseboard?
How to Install Bullnose Tile Baseboards
- Purchase bullnose tile that matches the floor tile. Some manufacturers do not produce bullnose tile that will match their floor tiles.
- Prepare the wall to receive the tile by cleaning off any thinset, grout or joint compound that may be on the wall to prevent a quality installation.
- Spread tile mastic horizontally across the base area of the wall. ...

Can baseboard go on top of hardwood?
Baseboards are often installed before flooring, although it depends on the type of flooring being used. It is necessary for carpeting to have the trim in place, allowing the edges to be tucked under and out of sight. However, for hardwood or laminate, it is easier to install the trim after.
How do you install baseboards after flooring?
0:323:52How to Install Baseboards with Hard Floors - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo you always put your baseboards on after the floor is finished. So that's with linoleum tilesMoreSo you always put your baseboards on after the floor is finished. So that's with linoleum tiles hardwoods laminate stuff like that really the only floor.
How high should baseboards be off hardwood floors?
For things like tile or hardwood, you would want to give a ⅜ to ½ inch clearance for the installers to be able to put the flooring in and be able to slide the edges beneath the baseboards.
Should there be a gap between hardwood floor and baseboard?
If you plan on installing carpet, your baseboards should be about 1 inch off the floor. This will give you enough room for the padding and the carpeting. If you are leaving the floors uncarpeted, you should not have any gaps. At most, the gap should be around the width of a quarter to prevent heavy drafts.
Should flooring go under baseboards?
Baseboards are usually installed before flooring with a reservation gap left at the bottom of the baseboards for the flooring to be slid underneath. The gap left under baseboards for flooring is dependent on the width of the flooring being installed.
Should baseboard trim touch the floor?
Baseboards should only touch the floor if you have no plans to carpet your floors and if you've already finished installing your other flooring. If you have yet to install the rest of your floor, carpet or otherwise, you'll need to take into account the height of the installed flooring.
How far off the floor should baseboard be installed?
As discussed above, baseboards are typically installed between 3/8" and 1" from the floor to accommodate carpet. Baseboards are often mounted level with the bottom edge of the drywall, which is kept 1" from the floor. This keeps both the drywall and the trim up out of the way of any spills or water leaks.
How far should baseboard be off the subfloor?
3/8" is a safe, standard gap.
Are you supposed to caulk baseboards?
In addition to filling gaps and making the joinery look flawless, this sealant serves as an important barrier to keep both critters and drafts out of spaces where they shouldn't be. Plus, caulk fills in dust-collecting crevices, making baseboards easier to clean.
Do you install baseboards before or after vinyl plank flooring?
As a general rule, baseboard is installed after the floor is installed, which makes covering the vinyl planks easy.
Does vinyl plank go under baseboard?
Don't want to deal with removing baseboards? You can leave them in place, but you will need to leave a ¼” gap between the baseboard and flooring, to account for expansion over time. You may want to purchase some quarter-round pieces in a matching color to cover up this gap.
Should baseboard be installed before or after tile?
The short answer is, in the majority of cases, tile should always go under baseboards. Baseboards provide cover for uneven walls, hide the end cuts for tile, and provide an aesthetically pleasing finish to a room by connecting it all.
How do you fill gaps between baseboard and floor?
If the gap between your baseboard and tile floor is ¼-inch or smaller, it should be filled with caulk. If the gap is larger than this, it's best to install shoe molding to hide the gap. When caulking gaps between your floor and tile, it's essential to use a paintable caulk.
Measuring For Baseboard and Shoe Molding and Selecting Size
In most installations, baseboard will cover every linear foot of wall space with the exception of door jambs. Measure the wall space and add 20% to...
Simple Joints – Along A Long Wall
When a wall is too long to use a single piece of baseboard, two boards must be joined end-to-end. The right way to do this is to cut opposing 45 de...
Inside Corners: Coping With Pain Or Mitre and Run
Inside corners are the most common in a home. Most regular rooms have four inside corners. There are two ways to cut molding for inside corners: co...
Outside Corners: 45 Degree Joins
Outside corners work similarly to inside corners and are joined at 45/45 degree angles. They are functionally similar to inside 45/45 mitres except...
Fastening Baseboard to The Wall
Most baseboard can be fastened to the wall on the studs using a 16 gauge finish nailer with 1.5 inch nails. We used the DuoFast Floormaster 250BN f...
Tool to Cut Baseboard and Shoe Molding
For most baseboards, a simple 10″ mitre saw that can make 45 degree cuts is sufficient. For baseboards taller than 4.5″, you’ll likely need to lay...
How to make baseboard stay tight against wall?
The right way to do this is to cut opposing 45 degree angled mitre cuts. To ensure the baseboard stays tight against the wall, find a stud and end the top mitre cut just beyond it, sinking a finish nail near the end of the board. This ensures the baseboard stays tight against the wall. In the drawing below, the left piece of baseboard will hold the right piece snugly against the wall.
What do you do with baseboard and shoe molding?
Baseboard and shoe molding dress up a new hardwood flooring installation. After you’ve put in the time installing the new floor, trimming it out frames the floor, showcasing the hardwoods just like a quality frame showcases quality art.
What is the difference between shoe molding and baseboard?
The only difference is that the measurements are shorter because shoe sits inside the perimeter of the baseboard.
How much does a stain grade baseboard cost?
The simplest builder-grade primed white baseboard can be purchased at Home Depot or Lowes for around $0.30 / linear foot, while stain-grade elaborate baseboards can cost as much as $4.00/linear foot. While most baseboards consist of a single board, elaborate baseboards can have 2 separate components installed on top of one another ...
How much space does baseboard cover?
In most installations, baseboard will cover every linear foot of wall space with the exception of door jambs. Measure the wall space and add 20% to your calculation for waste–less if you are purchasing precise lengths.
Where should shoe molding be tacked?
Tip: Shoe molding should be tacked to the baseboard , not the floor, which inhibits floor expansion beneath the shoe molding.
What degree angles are outside corners?
Outside corners work similarly to inside corners and are joined at 45/45 degree angles. They are functionally similar to inside 45/45 mitres except that they work in reverse. Again, when a wall is 90 degrees square, these work great.
How much space between baseboard and new hardwood flooring?
Leave a 1/4-inch or larger gap between the existing baseboard and the new hardwood flooring you are installing. This gap is needed to give the hardwood room to move with changing humidity.
What is the name of the molding on the bottom of a baseboard?
Touch up the caulk and the nail holes with paint. When you add trim to the bottom of your baseboards, it is known as shoe molding because it protects the baseboard from your shoes. You don't have to make it from wood.
What is the trim on the bottom of baseboard called?
When you add trim to the bottom of your baseboards, it is known as shoe molding because it protects the baseboard from your shoes. You don't have to make it from wood. Rubber and metal are also suitable materials.
Can you butt new flooring against baseboards?
The main purpose of baseboards is to hide the gap between the floor covering and the wall, but over the years they can become so much a part of the wall that you might not want to remove them to install new hardwood flooring. If that's true, you can butt the new flooring against them, but doing so will leave a gap that needs covering.
Can you butt new flooring?
If that's true, you can butt the new flooring against them, but doing so will leave a gap that needs covering. A simple solution is to nail quarter-round or other trim material to the original baseboard. Paint it to blend with the existing baseboard or stain it to blend with the flooring.
How many different stains can you get for each hardwood floor?
Get 3 different stains, one for each hardwood floor type.
What was the rough shape of the hardwood floors?
The hardwood floors were actually in pretty rough shape. Not structurally, mind you. The tops were rough from 40 years of having one carpet on them. They were a product of the old way of installing carpet. Imagine a 1 inch thick pad of dense sponge that is charcoal colored. Now imagine it sticks like clue to everything. That is what used to be under older carpets. The stuff is nearly impossible to get off in one pass.
Is refinishing hardwood floors expensive?
Refinishing hardwood floors and installing baseboards can be a time consuming, and expensive project. One that will leave your body sore and the kind you really only want to have to do from scratch one time.
Is baseboard cheap?
This actually created a pretty substantial cost savings in the end. Baseboard is not cheap. Once you include an uncommon thickness your price will get out of control quickly. In the end, I was given some stain “swatches” from the hardware store to take home and I matched it all.
Can you stain wood to match baseboards?
One of the biggest counter points to staining your hardwood to matching your baseboards has to do with aesthetics. Visual aesthetics in particular. Some professionals in the industry as well as home interior designers will state that matching all the wood makes it look like the floor is creeping up on the wall.
Can you pull out baseboards?
The biggest issue I had was I did not want to rip out the existing baseboards. They were in terrific shape and it made no sense to pull them out. When pulling out baseboards, you have to be very careful. One wrong move and you run the risk of splitting the wood and wrecking the whole piece. At the very least, a good chunk of it.
Do hardwood floors and baseboards need to match?
Do my hardwood floors and baseboards need to match? Your hardwood floors and baseboards do not need to match if you will not like the way they look. It might be best to bring some friends over to look at different test samples. This method helps give multiple comparisons so you feel confident in your color or stain choices.
How high should baseboards be installed without flooring?
The standard height that most baseboards are installed without flooring is 3/8ths of an inch. This leaves plenty of room for the carpet to be shoved up underneath the edge of the baseboards during installation. Some carpet installers may ask for a 1/4th inch gap for baseboards.
What is baseboard flooring?
Baseboards are an important part of finishing flooring that many home renovators may not consider when they’re trying to plan a project. But baseboards have to be figured into a flooring project whether they’re being replaced along with the flooring or not. Baseboards are usually installed before flooring with a reservation gap left at ...
When Do Baseboards Need to Be Removed?
Existing baseboards may need to be removed to install several kinds of flooring, such as some types of carpet. When new carpeting is installed, the subflooring and foam underneath the carpet are removed too.
When Should You Leave Baseboards in Place?
In some cases, baseboards are fixed to the wall so strongly with glue or other adhesives that pulling up the baseboard carries the risk of doing significant damage to the walls themselves.
Why Install Baseboards Before Carpet?
One reason that baseboards are usually installed before carpeting is that baseboards typically need to be painted to match the trim of the room.
How Much Does It Cost to Get Baseboards Installed?
Baseboards cost an average of around $1.56 a square foot to install. (Source: Porch) This price is usually calculated above and beyond the costs of installing flooring.
Why do you tack flooring down under the baseboards?
Baseboards aren’t just a cosmetic consideration either. Tacking the flooring down under the baseboards helps prevent the carpet from being pulled up.
When to install hardwood floor?
Once the baseboard has been removed it is time to install your hardwood floor. After the floor is installed, reinstall your baseboards, touch up and caulk where needed.
What is short baseboard?
Short baseboards give a better-finished look, aesthetically without shoe molding or quarter round. However, with tall profile baseboards, a shoe molding may enhance the decor. Matchup to the same height of your wood floors. The height of your new hardwood flooring may not be the same height as your previous floor covering, therefore, ...
When installing wood flooring, do you leave an expansion gap?
When installing wood flooring you are required to leave an expansion gap of approx the thickness of the flooring around the edges of the room. This gap will help ensure your flooring has enough room to expand and contract throughout the seasons.
Is the height of new hardwood flooring the same as previous flooring?
The height of your new hardwood flooring may not be the same height as your previous floor covering, therefore, the height of the baseboards would need to be adjusted accordingly.
Can you remove baseboard before the other?
You do not want to remove one side before the other; this can cause damage to the molding. Once you have a section of baseboard off use pliers to pull the nails out from the back side of the boards in a twisting motion. This will help disguise any holes on the face of the board.
Can baseboards be broken?
Your existing baseboard is not in the best shape and could be broken during removal. The baseboards were glued to the drywall and could prove difficult to remove without damage. You have no time to remove the baseboards and want a quick solution to finish the project.
Hardwood Flooring Install against a baseboard heater
Shannon, I saw your video on Hardwood Flooring Installation. I liked that you took the time to cover some of the smaller, trickier issues that are normally skipped. My question is:
Re: Hardwood Flooring Install against a baseboard heater
If the heater could be raised I would remove it, install the flooring and then re install it. This is assuming these are electric baseboards? Other wise install flooring with a space and then use a trim piece to cover space?
When replacing carpeting, should you have baseboards installed?
When replacing or adding carpeting to your home, it is better to have the baseboards installed first. This is because they can be installed and finished, with either paint or a stain, without worrying about spilling on the new carpet. Once dried and secure, the carpet can be sized, cut, and tucked under the gap to make clean edges around the room.
What is baseboard made of?
What Are Baseboards? Typically made from vinyl, plastic, or wood, baseboards are long boards used to hide the gap where the wall meets the floor. They are more aesthetically pleasing and used to protect the wall from damage caused by shoes or vacuum cleaners.
Why do you put baseboards before carpet?
Before Carpet. In addition to protecting drywall from moisture damage, the reason to install a baseboard before the carpet is so that the end result will look neater. Once the carpet is laid and cut, the edges are tucked under the trim for a clean finish. Another key reason to install the trim first is to be painted or stained without worrying ...
Why do we need gap in baseboards?
The gap, in this case, is to prevent damage to the drywall caused by moisture. Even the smallest spill onto drywall can seep in and compromise the wall’s integrity. In the event of larger spills or floods, the gap will help to prevent too much damage. This gap is the reason most homes use baseboards.
Why do you need a gap between the floor and baseboard?
This gap allows for any expansion of the materials over time. It also allows for airflow to decrease the chances of moisture seeping into the drywall.
What is the wall that is secured to the subfloor?
During construction, most walls will have either a piece of lumber or metal frame on the floor. These are secured with nails to the sub-floor (the base floor onto which you will install carpet, hardwood, or laminate).
Can you install baseboard first and then quarter round?
Instead of using a quarter round, it would be easier to install the flooring first and add the baseboard after. This way, the joint will be far neater, and any small gaps can be hidden with caulking.
