That is why we always recommend placing the walls first, and then placing the floors in the created spaces. This is also done as standard with screed floor constructions. If necessary, place edge insulation between the floor structure and the wall to score even better on the acoustic level.
You should get the messy jobs done long before approaching the final touches. This includes prepping the walls and removing the old flooring. Then install your new floors and painting should be the final thing on your to-do list!
Flooring Before Painting
When redecorating a room, people often wonder, “Should I paint the walls before or after I replace the flooring?” A.G. Williams, as a professional painting and remodeling contractor, recommends finishing the flooring first, be it carpet, laminate, tile or hardwood.
When renovating or building a space, drywall should typically be installed before flooring. Here's why: Protection: Installing drywall first helps protect the flooring from damage during the construction process, such as dings, scratches, or spills from drywall mud.
Do walls sit on top of subfloor? Walls are built on top of a home's subfloor, so replacing the subfloor can sometimes require removing the walls.
Always leave a 1/2-inch gap at the floor. This allows for floor and wall expansion without cracking the drywall. It also helps prevents moisture wicking if the floor floods. Wear work gloves, safety goggles and a dust mask when hanging drywall.
You have the top layer that is your floor covering (Hardwood, Laminate, Vinyl, Carpet, etc.), next you have the underlayment (usually a thin layer of fiber, foam, rubber), below that you have your subfloor (plywood, OSB, concrete), and lastly you have the joists which are the foundation to your floors.
In most instances, you'll be able to put tiles over the drywall. Even an area in the kitchen or bathroom, which is subject to some water, can be set over the drywall.
Fixing a Large Gap Between the Wall and Floor
If the gap is smaller than 1⁄2 in (1.3 cm), fill it with silicone caulk. Fill gaps larger than 1⁄2 in (1.3 cm) with a few pieces of wood, foam insulation, or spray insulation. Nail a baseboard or quarter round over the filled gap, then caulk around the baseboard.
The floor at ground or street level is called the "ground floor" (i.e. it needs no number; the floor below it is called "basement", and the floor above it is called "first") in many regions.
We recommend starting in the left corner of the longest wall in the room and to install the planks in the same direction as the main light source (e.g. the main window). Planks are always installed from left to right.
A good rule of thumb: whenever possible, paint first, then install the floor. However, there are exceptions. Here are some instances of when you should paint first: A rule of thumb is to paint before installing new flooring if you won't need to return to paint the trim.
Compared to fixing commercial walls, fixing floors is a relatively harder and messier process than fixing the walls. To save on all the cleaning, it would be best to do the floors first. If you do the walls first, you'll end up hiring someone to clean all the floors once the wall paint is done.
Install the Underlayment
Underlayment helps preserve and insulate the floors, dampen noise and protect against moisture. If your laminate planks are made with an attached underlayment, skip this step.
In the end, whether you tile your walls or floor first is down to you and your preferences. If you're working on it yourself and have more time to spare, then tile the floor first as this makes tiling the walls easier. Just bear in mind that you must wait for the adhesive to dry before you begin working on the walls.
Installing drywall with at least a ½ inch gap between it and the floor will save you many headaches later on. While it may be easier to secure the lower sheets of drywall first while they rest on the ground, the potential for problems both immediately and in the long run far outweighs the ease of installation.
Preparing a subfloor is an essential step for installing floor tile. It provides a level surface that will allow the tiles to properly stay in place. This guide will show you how to prepare your subfloor for a tile installation project to ensure that it's fit to support ceramic or porcelain tile.
In any case, you first start with placing the walls. Afterwards you can place and finish the floor structure per room. The reason for this is to be able to acoustically separate the rooms from each other.
Do the ceiling first, paint then floor.
Screws are often chosen for subfloor installations because their joining strength helps to prevent squeaky floors. Nails are more flexible and will give a little more with hardwood flooring, so they're often the choice for panel installation.
Plywood is considered the most popular material used for subflooring, it has been used since the 1950s and remains one of the top choices for contractors. Standard plywood works perfectly fine as a subflooring material, but the best option is ¾” tongue-and-groove plywood subflooring.