Installing new hardwood flooring is a big project but the baseboard should not be overlooked. When installing new flooring you may need to remove your baseboards first. Your contractor can talk to you about the options and reasons why you may need to remove your hardwood. The installation of your current baseboards, height of the current baseboards and their current condition are all things to consider. Removing the baseboards can help to create the ideal finished product. Generally it is recommended to remove your baseboards prior to installing hardwood flooring.
The finished product will likely look best if you reinstall the baseboards after the installation of your hardwood. Without removing our baseboards you may need shoe molding or quarter round to hide the height differences and can be less appealing than a short baseboard.
When reinstalling your baseboards you can best match the height of your hardwood flooring to create the best finished look. If your new hardwood is thinner than your old wood your baseboards will have a gap and will need to be adjusted.
Removing the baseboard can be a big project but your hardwood professional is experienced in removing and replacing baseboard and can make quick work of the project. If you want to remove the baseboard yourself you can but it can be easy to do more harm than good. After each piece is removed they should be numbered to make re-installation easy. After the installation of the hardwood you will then need to reinstall the baseboards, touch them up with paint and caulk them.
There are some reasons you may want to leave the baseboards on. If the baseboards have been glued to the drywall you may not be able to remove them without doing a lot of damage to your drywall. There are some solutions to help with any gaps between your hardwood and baseboards and other issues. Some gap between your baseboard and flooring is necessary to allow for expansion of the wood.
Base shoe or quarter round molding is a great way to cover any gap and should be attached to the baseboard rather than to the flooring.
In the end the choice to remove the baseboard is something you should discuss with your contractor and is done on a case by case circumstance. Baseboards can be the perfect way to frame in your new hardwood and can be the perfect finishing touch.
