Should Baseboards Be Caulked At Floor

The object is to set the tape at the exact vertical position where the baseboard would make contact with the floor.

Should baseboards be caulked at floor.

The idiots who built my house caulked the baseboards to the floor i hate the look. Once painted with latex fixing the poor prep work afterward becomes more difficult as latex paint remains rubbery for years so sanding makes it peel. When setting the tape hold the roll flat up against the baseboard as a guide in positioning the tape first photo above. Caulk is not neccessary as there is no change in plane.

Caulking baseboards entails applying a sealant along the edges of the floor to seal the gaps between the floor and baseboard or the spaces wall and the baseboard. So are baseboards supposed to be caulked. Baseboards must be caulked so that there would be no gaps between the wall baseboards and the floor. There are two significant reasons for caulking baseboards.

Caulking baseboards is easy fast and inexpensive. As far as water getting behind the baseboard i think the odds of that happening are outweighted by the aesthetics grout looks so so much better than caulk. If the intersection between the wall and the baseboard is caulked it s smooth dirt doesn t tend to collect and if it does it s easy to wipe off. In addition its good to note caulking is not recommended for unfinished floor or walls.

Some of the comments here complain about caulk changing color. Caulking the unfinished wood floor cannot form water tight seals or joints. Caulking also prevents baseboards from damage due to water and leakages. Calking after painting may destroy your floor appeal.

Yes there are numerous benefits of caulking baseboards in your home. That isn t a problem if the caulk is painted as it should be. Always caulk the bottom of baseboards in the bathroom or any other room before painting. If i didn t hate this house so much i would install shoe moulding.

Use good quality tape 3m 1 blue painter s tape. My tips for caulking bottom of baseboards. There are several other benefits that you get when it is used home during baseboards. Some people caution that the floorboards expand and contract in different seasons hence the crack but i have hardwood floors and never had a problem despite the caulking.

Floor tiles should either have the baseboard rest on top or the grout should be extended to fill the gap. If the intersection isn t caulked it will be a permanent dirt magnet. You should get a new high quality painter come in and fix the bad prep work and repaint your baseboards but you will pay dearly for their time. Applying caulk to baseboards is usually a retroactive measure designed to fill in gaps that occur at the top against the wall or at the bottom adjacent to the flooring.