Asked by: Don Sagastigutxia
hobbies and interests woodworking

Do you really need baseboards?

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Baseboards provide a useful function in a house. They are not purely aesthetic. Install your floors and sit you baseboards on top of flooring. If you cut out bottom of drywall so that the drywall depth acts as expansion gap for wood, you don't need shoe molding.


Consequently, are baseboards necessary?

Baseboards Conceal Hardwood Floors that Expand and Contract: Due to moisture content, it is natural for certain types of hardwood floor to expand and contract throughout the year. This is accommodated by leaving small gaps (e.g., ¼'') along the wall. Baseboard is necessary to cover the gaps.

Secondly, do modern homes have baseboards? Baseboard trim is usually much less ornate than crown molding, though in modern houses both can be starkly simple. Remember that more streamlined molding will collect less dust and dirt. And since baseboards are adjacent to the floor, you need to make sure the two materials work together in terms of color and texture.

Subsequently, one may also ask, what is the point of baseboards?

In architecture, a baseboard (also called skirting board, skirting, mopboard, floor molding, or base molding) is usually wooden or vinyl board covering the lowest part of an interior wall. Its purpose is to cover the joint between the wall surface and the floor.

Is molding necessary?

While they often go unnoticed, they are essential both for the elegance and functionality of your floors. Transition Molding is also essential from a safety standpoint, as it is necessary to prevent tripping between walking from hard surface to carpeting.

Related Question Answers

Amat Farre

Professional

What can I use instead of baseboards?

Porcelain tile is perfect for baseboards. Use the same tile that is on the floors or a contrasting tile for the baseboards. Tin tile, which is sometimes used as a backsplash for a kitchen sink can be used for baseboards both in the kitchen and the bathroom.

Fundador Geli

Professional

Are baseboards expensive?

Typical baseboard materials
There are a variety of baseboard sizes and styles available, but generally speaking, fiberboard will be less expensive, with costs averaging 60 cents to $1 per foot. For wood baseboard, expect to pay 80 cents to $1.20 per foot, not including installation.

Sundas Krausskopf

Professional

What comes first baseboards or carpet?

The baseboard at the bottom of a wall should always be installed slightly raised from the floor's surface. There are two reasons for this gap, which is generally required by building codes. First, in the event of carpet installation, the gap will need to be there for the edges of the carpet to be tucked under.

Cristin Aurrecoechea

Explainer

What color should baseboards be?

Simple Baseboards
When it comes to trim along the baseboard, it's still best to keep it simple. Most baseboards are 3 to 5 inches high and white or ivory is still the go-to painted trim color for most homes.

Walae Holschevnikov

Explainer

How tall should baseboards be?

Most baseboards are 1/2 to 1 inch thick and 3 to 8 inches tall. Gauge baseboard size by its relationship to crown and casing. Baseboard is typically taller than casing is wide, and about as tall as the crown. The taller the crown, the taller the baseboard should be to maintain visual balance.

Severo Sevinate

Explainer

Do baseboards have to match throughout the house?

Sometimes where one area flows into the next without a dividing wall, it is good to keep all baseboards the same color. But from room to room, paint them whatever color you like.

Adoracio Slootmaekers

Pundit

What is the most popular baseboard trim?

Rounded or stepped trim is probably the most common type of baseboard you'll encounter. This is the type of trim used in a lot of newer construction. Basically, it's a piece that's about 5/8 inch to 7/8 inch wide and three to three and a half inches tall.

Paco Feldinger

Pundit

How do you cut baseboards without a miter saw?

Draw a pencil line along the cut edge. This will be the contour of the baseboard. Cut along this pencil line 25 degrees away from the miter. This is called coping because it was traditionally done with a coping saw, but any rotary tool with a cutting blade can replicate the cut.

Mounina Ubao

Pundit

How much does it cost to replace baseboards?

The costs of baseboard materials are generally reasonable, ranging from $0.60 per linear foot for basic styles in fiberboard to about $1.20 per linear foot for wood. It is also possible to hire a finish carpenter to design and cut custom designs.

Endika Orvain

Pundit

What is the difference between baseboard and trim?

2 Answers. Trim is a general term, often used to describe all types of molding and millwork. Casing is a type of molding, typically used to trim the perimeter of windows and doors. Base molding (or baseboard) is a type of molding, which is applied where the wall and floor meet.

Alenka Espelta

Pundit

Does laminate go under baseboard?

For convenience, proper floor installation, and to save money, remove the baseboard during the installation process and reuse it with the new flooring. Since most types of laminate are not secured to the subfloor, the baseboard will help hold it securely into place.

Gadiel Trochez

Teacher

Should I remove baseboards when installing hardwood floors?

A: It is not absolutely necessary to remove baseboards to install new hardwoods, but remember that wood floors require an expansion gap of 1/2 inch along the surrounding walls to accommodate expansion and contraction with changes in moisture and humidity.

Abdela Wellenreuther

Teacher

Do I need to remove baseboards to install vinyl plank flooring?

For ease of installation, it is always best to remove the trim or casing that makes contact with the floor. Ideally, this includes baseboards, door trim and casings, and quarter-round.

Laila Nadelstumpf

Teacher

Should I use quarter round or shoe molding?

Shoe molding is much the same as quarter round, having the same 90° angle on the backside but instead of being a perfect quarter radius, its profile is a bit more squat. Using shoe molding gives the floor installer more latitude in their end cuts and also allows the trim carpenter to hide un-level floors.

Ponciana Molinos

Teacher

How do you cut baseboards on the wall?

Score the baseboard carefully with a utility knife along the cut line. Place a sharp chisel in the groove. Tap it lightly with a hammer from top to bottom to sever the rest of the baseboard. Once the baseboard is cut, you can use a flat bar and a hammer to tap the section you want to remove away from the wall.

Rob Icaro

Reviewer

Do you need Quarter round with baseboards?

Installing quarter-round or shoe molding is a better option. Baseboard molding installations are very often finished off with an additional thin piece of molding called quarter-round or shoe molding that covers the gap between the bottom of the baseboards and the floor.

Leovigildo Dobychin

Reviewer

How do you finish baseboards?

Part 3 Installing the Baseboard and Finishing Up
  1. Nail the baseboards in place with finishing nails.
  2. Install shoe molding and cap molding if necessary.
  3. Apply caulking to sections of molding in wet places.
  4. Touch up the trim with Spackle.
  5. Tape the wall and floor above and below the trim (optional).
  6. Apply your finish coat.

Mames Pucholt

Reviewer

Does door trim and baseboards have to match?

Five or six inches would be more in scale. If you are using beefier 3 ½ or 4 1/2-inch door trim, 8- or 10-inch baseboards are more appropriate. Keep in mind, also, that the outside edge of the door molding has to be deep enough to accommodate the thickness of the baseboard.

Benedito Lasarte

Supporter

How do you install new baseboards?

First hold the base molding against the wall after you cut it to length, and look for gaps. If you see some, cut a few braces from 4- to 6-in. lengths of scrap baseboard and put 45-degree angles on the ends. Then apply construction adhesive at the top and bottom.

Co-Authored By:

EveryThingWhat Staff Editor

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6th January, 2020

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