Do I Have to Take Off My Baseboard When I Refinish My Floor?

Baseboards

• Baseboards are the strips of wood or composite material that line the bottom of walls just above the floor. They're typically either painted or stained and varnished. When you're refinishing hardwood floors you usually do not have to remove these boards. However, you may choose to remove them if you want to refinish as much of the floor as possible. When removing the boards, use a pry bar and a shim or other thin piece of wood. The shim is used to protect the wall itself from the pressure caused by using the pry bar.

Molding

• While you don't have to remove the baseboards, you may want to remove the show molding. Moldings such as quarter-round or other strips along the bottom of the baseboard can be removed to make refinishing easier, but this is also optional. These shoe moldings may get damaged during the refinishing, especially if you do not use the equipment properly.

Damaged Baseboards

• You will want to remove the baseboards if they're already damaged. It's best to do this before you refinish the floor so you have more room to work. Once finished with the refinishing, you can then add the new baseboards.

Finishing Baseboards

• You may want to remove the baseboards if you plan to paint or stain them. While painting the boards is possible while they're still attached, you'll have to be very careful to not get any paint or stain on the floor. If you remove the boards, finish them and then reattach them, you'll have to cover and finish any nail holes after you've reattached the boards.