How to Cut & Install Baseboards for Wood Laminate Floors

Laminate flooring with baseboards installed.

Laminate floors are an affordable option to solid hardwood floors. Like hardwood floors, laminate floors have an expansion gap-a small gap next to the walls that allows the floor to expand and contract. Baseboards can be cut and installed to hide the expansion gap surrounding wood laminate floors.

Things You'll Need

• Measuring tape
• Miter box
• Saw
• Pneumatic nail gun
• Caulk
• Painters tape
• Paint
• Paintbrush

Instructions

1. Measure the length of wall with a measuring tape. Transfer and mark the measurements on the back of the baseboard.

2. Place the baseboard into a miter box at the 45-degree angle mark on the box and cut the baseboard with a saw. Cut the baseboard at the marked measurement transferred from the wall.

3. Install the baseboard along the wall using a pneumatic nail gun. Install all of the baseboards in the same manner. Leave a gap (1/16 inch maximum) between the flooring and the bottom of the baseboard.

4. Cut an outside cut at a 45-degree angle on the ends of two pieces of baseboard that meet at a corner. Install the baseboard. The outside cuts should form a 90-degree angle where the two pieces of baseboard meet at the wall corner.

5. Apply a small bead of caulk to any gaps between the baseboards and walls. Fill nail holes with wood putty. Allow the wood putty and caulk to dry completely.

6. Place painters tape on the laminate flooring below the baseboard molding. Paint the baseboard molding. Allow the paint to dry completely then remove the painters tape.

References

• Readers Digest: How to Install Baseboard Molding, Even on Crooked Walls