Do Baseboard Go In Before Or After Flooring

With unfinished hardwood always run the floor first.

Do baseboard go in before or after flooring.

Most all laminate is a floating flooring system which means it doesn t actually attach to the subfloor friction holds it in place once all the pieces are set together. However when it comes to prefinished flooring i respectfully disagree. Baseboards are often installed before flooring since they must be finished in place with either stain or paint and this is much easier without worrying about staining the hardwood tile or carpet. The carpet installer can run the tack strip up to the trim then roll excess carpet under the trim.

Dh is a commercial gc and apparently they do it the opposite ie. When we do the interior trim and the prefinished bamboo flooring in a house or any prefinished flooring for that matter we always do all the trim first using 3 4 spacers or whatever width the floor you are using is under the doors cased openings and baseboard. As a result it will expand contract a bit with temperature humidity changes in the house. Once the baseboard has been removed it is time to install your hardwood floor.

When installing baseboards before carpet ask the installer how large of a gap to leave between the floor and the trim e g. After the floor is installed reinstall your baseboards touch up and caulk where needed. If you number each piece of the baseboard and the wall it came off of after the new flooring is installed it can be easily be matched. No baseboards do not need to be removed.

Our painter stainer has insisted that all baseboards and casings be in place before the flooring is installed and only then he does the actual painting.