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Do you install baseboards before or after flooring?

Eric Shipe
Home Improvement Specialist
Eric Shipe is a Kitchen and Bath Designer and the Owner of Bath + Kitchen based in Washington DC. Eric and his team specialize in cabinetry, design, and remodels. They serve homeowners, interior designers, architects, and contractors with a refined process, creative ideas, 4K photo-realistic renderings, and 360 Panoramic views. Bath + Kitchen was featured in Best of Houzz 2017-2020. Eric holds a BA in Economics and Business Administration from Ursinus College.

Eric Shipe

Home Improvement Specialist

Expert Answer

Install new baseboards toward the end of the renovation, since all prior tasks can damage them.

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Do you caulk baseboards before or after painting?

Eric Shipe
Home Improvement Specialist
Eric Shipe is a Kitchen and Bath Designer and the Owner of Bath + Kitchen based in Washington DC. Eric and his team specialize in cabinetry, design, and remodels. They serve homeowners, interior designers, architects, and contractors with a refined process, creative ideas, 4K photo-realistic renderings, and 360 Panoramic views. Bath + Kitchen was featured in Best of Houzz 2017-2020. Eric holds a BA in Economics and Business Administration from Ursinus College.

Eric Shipe

Home Improvement Specialist

Expert Answer

Apply new caulking before you paint and finish the walls. This helps you achieve a smooth, professional look.

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Do my baseboards need to be caulked?

Eric Shipe
Home Improvement Specialist
Eric Shipe is a Kitchen and Bath Designer and the Owner of Bath + Kitchen based in Washington DC. Eric and his team specialize in cabinetry, design, and remodels. They serve homeowners, interior designers, architects, and contractors with a refined process, creative ideas, 4K photo-realistic renderings, and 360 Panoramic views. Bath + Kitchen was featured in Best of Houzz 2017-2020. Eric holds a BA in Economics and Business Administration from Ursinus College.

Eric Shipe

Home Improvement Specialist

Expert Answer

After installing your baseboards, assess the current caulking to see if it needs a new application.

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Question

We originally had a ceramic floor, now we have vinyl and there is a significant gap. What type of caulk would be best? We have beadboard for part of the molding.

Daverwaterloo

Community Answer

If the gap is fairly large, it would look better to place a piece of quarter round between the floor and the baseboard rather than a large section of caulking to fill the gap.

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What determines what color caulk is best for a white baseboard to light oak floors? My husband says clear, I say white.

Community Answer

I'd do white to match your baseboards. You want to close the gap and have a seamless transition between the baseboard and the floor. If you use clear it'll be sealed but the gap will still show. When doing floors, the tape along the floor is crucial to getting a straight line, because you won't be able to paint to hide any mistakes.

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Question

How do I clean the dust off the caulking when it will not come off with a vacuum?

Daverwaterloo

Community Answer

Just use a damp cloth and some soap. The caulking tends to be "sticky" and any dust will adhere to it more than a painted surface. If the dust actually got embedded in the caulk itself while it was drying, you will have to remove the caulk and reapply it.

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Question

When using a vinyl/rubber baseboard with sheet vinyl in kitchen and bathroom, is caulking necessary?

Daverwaterloo

Community Answer

Not necessarily. Most vinyl baseboard has a very low profile (and a flared bottom), so it doesn't protrude very far out from the wall like wood baseboards. You can place the bottom so it sits directly on the flooring, since it won't move or absorb water.

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