Bottom: Gaps between the bottom of the baseboard and the floor happen because floor joists sag and foundations settle. If the gaps are wide enough, they allow air infiltration and seriously impact your home's energy consumption.
This is totally normal and not something you should be worried about. If you had bought this house and the flooring was already installed you would have never noticed in a million years that that Gap was there but because it's new and you're hyper focused on it you notice.
The most common reason is foundation settlement. As the soil underneath your home becomes uneven, it can no longer properly support the foundation. This causes sections of the foundation to sink or settle at different rates, resulting in cracks and gaps between the floors and walls.
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.
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.
Use Caulk to Fill the Gap
You will want to line the floor with blue painter's tape to minimize cleanup. You'll want to use a paintable latex silicone caulk to fill the gap. Once the caulk is dried, paint the caulk to match the baseboards.
Baseboard moulding, or skirting board, is a type of trim that's placed where the bottom of a wall meets the floor.
How high should baseboard be off the floor? In the majority of cases, the gap between the baseboard and the floor will be between 3/8” and 1/2”. However, if you're working with a thicker carpet and/or padding, this gap could easily be as wide as a full inch.
Caulking is required if there is a gap of at least one-eighth of an inch between the flooring and the baseboard. This helps to protect them from moisture and dust. Caulk should ideally be applied to solid surfaces such as stone, wood, and other similar materials for the best results.
Note: 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.
Gaps between wall and floor most commonly occur due to an unlevel foundation. Baseboards separating from the walls are also standard. Soil irregularities beneath your home can cause parts of your foundation to sink or settle at different rates, leading to visible gaps.
“House settling” is a term used to describe natural wear-and-tear of a foundation over time. It's normal for homes to sink a bit further down into the ground, no matter how well a foundation has been constructed – especially given the climate and soil type of Texas.
Baseboard: Also called wall base, this moulding is applied around the lower perimeter of the room along a finished floor.
Generally, silicone is most effective for small to medium-sized gaps, typically ranging from ⅛ inches to ½ inches. Attempting to seal large gaps with a single application may result in collapse or shrinkage. When facing wider gaps, epoxy-based sealants or specialized gap-filling products may be a better choice.
In these situations, I suggest using Selleys 475g No More Gaps Interior Multipurpose Gap Filler. It has the capacity to fill gaps all the way up to 25mm in width and 12mm in depth. Please make sure that the area is free of dirt and debris before you begin.
Gaps and cracks around baseboards give insects an easy way into your walls where they can build nests and eat away at the structure of your home unseen. Caulk on both the top and bottom edge of the baseboards closes the gaps to keep the bugs out.
For interior door, window and trim projects, acrylic latex caulk is usually a good bet. Use it for multiple projects, from installing wood paneling without nails to quickly filling in small drywall holes and cracks. Experts advise acrylic latex caulk is the best choice for baseboards.
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.
By using a taller baseboard moulding, you can give the impression of higher ceilings and more space. This is an easy and affordable way to add character and sophistication to a small room.
However, it's much easier and convenient for hardwood and laminate flooring to be laid first before installing the trim. No matter whether baseboards or flooring is installed first, it's essential that a gap of at least 1 inch is left between the baseboard and the floor.
Modern and minimal flat baseboards.
Flat baseboards play against traditional expectations of a curving, rounded baseboard and instead feature a completely flat surface. Elevate Your Living Experience with Unparalleled Service.
Whether you need quarter round moulding is ultimately up to you. However, it serves an aesthetic and functional purpose, so most people and designers agree that quarter round moulding is a must-have feature.
It's all about cohesive design. Traditional crown moulding profiles look their best in similarly traditional spaces. Likewise, they don't tend to look very good in more modern design aesthetics. One could say crown is outdated in this sense, but this isn't a weakness of crown moulding.