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Baseboard Gap Advice?

Allison Della Bella

3 years ago

This 1/8” gap between laminate floors and baseboard. These are newly installed floors and you can feel the “floating” boards in that area too. We have 4 rooms done so far, 6 total, and this is the worst one. I suspect the floor wasn’t 100% level prior to install and now we have this gap in various places throughout this one room. Will Latex caulk inSouthern California hold up? 1/4 rounds or other shoe boards are out of the question.

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Comments (7)

millworkman
3 years ago
Problem with the boards floating up and down is in short order the click locks will be broken and the floor ruined. That is why it is imperative the floor is flat to within an 1/8" over 6' ft I believe it is. level does not matter, flatness is the key.
M L
3 years ago
I'm having the same issue. I do not know if the installer leveled the floor to w/in an 1/8", how would this be done and should it have been?? Also, since the floor is in already, can the installer go back and push down on the baseboard until it is flush with the floor and then nail to the wall??
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You can find backer rod in the heating and ventilation section at HD. And, yes you stuff it into the gap until you fill the space within an 1/8" or less of the top. Thick caulk just cracks and soon. You can use a putty knife to smooth larger caulk joints and a wet finger for the narrow joints. Keep a wet rag handy to wipe the excess off painted surfaces. After the caulk sets up you can paint it. I'd guess that Dap doesn't want you to use the product on butt joints in siding.
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Unfortunately, I don’t see an easy way to hide those gaps. If there was a front overhang for the countertop, you could easily apply a small piece of trim molding on both sides. However, with no overhang, the problem is how to esthetically terminate the top end of the trim. You’ll have to decide if having an exposed top end to the trim with some kind of bevel is acceptable. I wouldn’t try to build up the surface, or to caulk into those cracks. It wouldn’t look very good, and would just draw attention to the issue. It would be better to just learn to live with them, than to do such a bastardized fix.
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"The flooring guy is saying it's the painters responsibility." That is generally correct. My proposals almost always say we don't include painting and the view is that paint prep is part of painting.
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millworkman
3 years ago
Self Leveling Compound and absolutely it has to be done. And no once the floor is down you have to remove it all to get it right or you have voided any and all warranties.
M L
3 years ago
Oh no! I should ask the installer how he prepped the floor and if he used self leveling compound to flatten it? Also, there were small size areas all along perimeter of condo about the size of a dime of broken concrete where nails were removed from concrete from carpet tack strip. Is it possible this could be one of the reasons why my baseboard does not touch the top of floor.? I am almost certain he did not fill those holes along the perimeter of my entire floor, should he have done that? I know they will not remove entire floor and will tell me it's supposed to be like that or, it's expected. So upset i trusted that they knew what they were doing (installers from the store where I purchased). I wonder if removing the boards along the perimeter and them putting the compound there would help?? I can ask them to do that if you think it will. Please give your opinion thanks.
M L
3 years ago
Removing the baseboards and removing planks along the perimeter of condo then putting something to fill the holes is what I mean...
millworkman
3 years ago
"Removing the baseboards and removing planks along the perimeter of condo then putting something to fill the holes is what I mean..."

No, will not do a thing. Wrong installation is wrong installation. I would contact the store AFTER reading the installation instructions for the product you purchased. If there is nothing in your contact or receipt about subfloor prep then they did not perform this nor did you pay for it. If they did not follow the instructions to a Tee you have a legit gripe with the store.
M L
3 years ago
Thank you for your help. Really appreciate your input. I will do that. Thank You.

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