Does baseboard sit on top of hardwood floor?

Author: Era Stehr  |  Last update: Tuesday, July 15, 2025

No, lay your flooring next to the baseboard, leaving room for expansion. This avoids buckling.

Should baseboards touch hardwood floors?

There is only one right way to install hardwood flooring and it is to have the hardwood under the baseboard, leaving a gap around the perimeter of the flooring to allow the floor to expand and contract.

Should baseboards go on top of flooring?

Baseboards are typically installed after the flooring is laid. This approach allows for a cleaner finish and ensures that the flooring can expand and contract without being constrained by the baseboards. Installing baseboards after the flooring also helps cover any gaps that may be present at the edges of the flooring.

Should I remove baseboards when installing hardwood floors?

When installing hardwood floors, you can detach the baseboards if you prefer. Removing and reinstalling the baseboards during this process can: Help cover the half-inch expansion gap along the walls that hardwood needs. Allow you to get new baseboards or repaint your existing baseboards before they go back on the wall.

What goes on top of hardwood floors?

Laminate flooring is one of the easiest types to install over hardwood. There is virtually no preparation that is required. If, however, the hardwood flooring underneath is wavy, you will want to level it before placing laminate over it.

Baseboards for Hardwood Floors

What should you not put on a hardwood floor?

DON'T: Do not use anything with ammonia in it to clean your wood floors. Stay away from wax based products, acrylic finishes, detergents, bleaches, polishes, oil soaps, and vinegar. Instead, get a hardwood cleaning solution (you can pick them up at any big hardware store), spray it on a dust mop and go to town.

What do you put between hardwood floor and subfloor?

The underlayment acts as a barrier between your subfloor and hardwood, potentially saving your investment from damage caused by moisture. This is particularly important in humid climates or homes with moisture-emitting concrete subfloors.

Should I leave a gap between baseboard and floor?

Ideally, you want to address a gap between your baseboard and flooring before your flooring is installed.

How high should baseboard be off hardwood floor?

Baseboard height for hardwood floors

Either run the baseboard flush against the total height of all the materials or add 1/16'' – 1/8'' to the total height and consider using quarter round (shoe molding). To help installation, use wood blocks of the same thickness of your new floor.

Is it necessary to remove baseboards when refinishing hardwood floors?

While removing shoe molding and quarter round can facilitate the refinishing process, it's not always necessary. Conversely, leaving baseboards in place is generally recommended to avoid potential damage to walls and trim.

Are baseboards replaced with new flooring?

Flooring installers can install your flooring without removing your baseboards, but each case is different. The process will be different for various floor coverings and can require additional steps we'll talk about in this post.

What is the piece between baseboard and floor?

Base shoe or quarter round is the thin, narrow piece of trim that runs along the bottom of the floor and hides the gap between the wall and the floor.

Do you cut baseboard flat or vertical?

Version: Flat on Saw (inside-90 degree)

For the run of baseboard that is coming from the left, have the top of the design touching the fence and make the cut. For the right-side run of molding, have the bottom of the design touching the fence and make the cut.

Do baseboards go on top of flooring?

Baseboards are typically installed prior to the flooring. For instance, baseboards should be installed first before laying carpeting. It allows for the edges to be tucked under and out of view. However, it's much easier and convenient for hardwood and laminate flooring to be laid first before installing the trim.

Where not to install hardwood floors?

Bathrooms and laundry rooms are rooms where you should not install hardwood floors. Separately stands the basement, where it is not recommended to install hardwood flooring under almost any conditions. Humidity, the possibility of spills, and floods make these rooms dangerous for hardwood flooring.

Should you caulk between baseboard and hardwood floor?

Sealing the space between the trim and the baseboard is more aesthetically pleasing than leaving the space open with holes. Adding a layer of caulk will serve to smooth the transition between the floorboard and the trim, and you can even purchase colored caulk to make it flow more naturally.

How far off the floor should baseboard be installed?

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. If adding baseboards after carpet is laid, it should be installed at the same height as without carpet.

What is the most popular baseboard height?

There is no universal baseboard height standard but typically you'll see baseboards in several common heights:
  • Most common: 3-¼", 5-¼", 4-¼"
  • Less common: 3-⅛", 4", 5", 5-½"

What is the rule for baseboard trim?

A baseboard height that's approximately 7% of the wall height provides for a solid and definable base without being too big. The overall proportion of baseboard to wall height will be comfortable and pleasing. So in a room with a 9 foot high ceiling, a baseboard that's about 8 inches tall works.

Why is baseboard separating from floor?

One of the signs that you may have a foundation settlement problem, is when your baseboard trim is pulling away from your floor. A home settlement issue is caused when the soil beneath the foundation changes and shifts. When soil becomes too wet, it will heave and swell. When soil becomes too dry, it shrinks.

Should baseboard be level or follow the floor?

When installing baseboard over an uneven floor, you'll need to scribe it to the floor so that the top edge will be level. 1. Use shims to level baseboard if floor is not level. If the floor is uneven or out-of-level, you will need to scribe it to the floor so that the top edge of the baseboard will be level.

Does hardwood go directly on the subfloor?

wood subfloor. Most engineered flooring can be installed using staples, full spread adhesive or a floating method over an approved subfloor. Make sure you have a sturdy subfloor: 3/4-inch CDX plywood is preferred and 3/4-inch OSB is acceptable.

What is the next best thing to hardwood floors?

5 Alternatives to Traditional Hardwood Floors
  • Cork Flooring. An increasingly popular choice for home renovations is cork flooring, a completely renewable alternative that is available in both tiles and planks. ...
  • Vinyl or Laminate. ...
  • Ceramic Tile Floors. ...
  • Bamboo Floors. ...
  • Carpet Tiles.

Do you put padding under hardwood floors?

One of the biggest threats to hardwood floors is moisture. When planks are exposed to water and humidity they can warp, crack, rot, and weaken over time. Surprisingly, most of the damage comes from underneath the planks when water gets under the floor and penetrates upward. That's why an underlayment is so important.

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