I'am considering getting laminate wood floors, do you have to move the baseboards up to put the floor under?
Question:When installing laminate flooring, do you have to move the baseboards up to install the floor underneath or can you keep the baseboards touching the cement like mine are. Also are there any advantages to either way? I perfer to leave my baseboards the way they are and have the floor 'butt' up to them, is this okay? Thank you for any help.
Answers:
You won't be able to butt the flooring against the baseboard since this will not allow the needed space for expansion. Without this gap, the floor will buckle and warp in the wintertime when your walls contract. You can leave the baseboard down but something else will be needed to cover the expansion gap. It is very, very important to use a proper expansion space. 1/8" is NOT enough. Always try to use at least 1/4" around all vertical obstructions.
The best way to cover the expansion gap is a 5/16" or 3/8" quarter round molding. You can buy quarter round that matches the pattern of the laminate and looks very good.
When installing a laminate or hardwood floor it is usually more aesthetically pleasing to remove the baseboards and run the flooring underneath so you dont see any gaps or seams along your walls but if you want to leave your baseboards where they are you can install with them as is ... just make sure you leave 1/8 of an inch gap room so your floors can expand and contract as needed with the changes in temp etc.
Also, if the floors will be touching cement make sure you put a vapor barrier between the flooring and the cement so that water doesnt seep up from the ground into your newly installed floors and ruin them.
you'll have a more "professional job if you raise the baseboards. the reason is the walls may not be true and straight and the baseboards will conceal any irregularities.
you could add a 1/4 round strip but that wouldn't be as esthetic. raising the base boards shouldn't be too much of a hassle use a flat pry bar and start removing from the center and wourk towards the corners to avoid breaking them.
If you have baseboards only, there's a compromise answer. You can install the laminate flooring with the baseboards where they are and add "quarter round" to your baseboards. It allows for your 1/8th inch for expansion without having it show. It's also a very nice finished look.
for a nice finished look the base boards should be removed and then reinstalled after the floor is set so the gap between the wall and the floor is covered by the base board .
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