Installing Hardwood Baseboards

Is it necessary to remove baseboards when installing hardwood flooring.

Installing hardwood baseboards.

To determine the amount of baseboard material you need measure each straight section of the wall and round up to the nearest whole foot dimension divisible by two. It is not absolutely necessary to remove baseboards to install new hardwoods but remember that wood floors require an expansion gap of 1 2 inch along the surrounding walls to accommodate expansion and contraction with changes in moisture and humidity. Use 11 4 to 11 2 in long enough to penetrate the molding the drywall and drive at least 1 2 inch into the wall s base plate. For hardwood the flooring is installed first and the base sits atop the flooring.

Join the ends of the boards over a floor joist where possible avoiding joints that form an h. 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. Keep joints that line up at least two rows apart. Install the base shoe quarter round molding over the expansion gap created by your new hardwood flooring.

How to install hardwood floor without removing the baseboard. I show little tips and tricks that can make or break a good job from a great. Start running baseboard against inside corners and work toward outside corners. Once you have gathered all the tools here are the steps to installing your new baseboard molding.

Fill any nail holes and apply any touch up as needed. Steps on how to install baseboard 1. A week before installation bring the wood inside to acclimate. Baseboard is installed before carpet and the edges of the carpet butt to the base.

Learn how to install baseboard as well as outside corners for a seamless look. When attaching the base shoe quarter round nail the molding into the bottom of the existing baseboard and not into the flooring itself.