can i install a wood laminate floor right up to my existing base molding?

Answer 1

Absolutely. Leave the expansion gap required by the manufacturer, and cover that gap with quarter round as many here have suggested. When nailing in the quarter round, nail to baseboard only - not to the floor, as the floor will move.

Answer 2

Ok, I saw this on "Holmes on Homes". If you put it too tight against the wall and don't leave room for expansion your floor will buckle in the middle. You have to have room to allow for expansion. Remove the baseboard. Get the spacers that come with the laminate flooring installation kit. (Pergo is a good one) and place them between the wall and the flooring. After you install the flooring, reattach your baseboard and install the 1/4 round on the bottom. It will hide any gap and it looks nice. I can show you pics of ours.

Answer 3

Did this ... don't got right to the wall (need room for expansion) but if you don't want to cut or remove the existing molding get 1/4 round molding and nail it to the existing molding over the new flooring ... works great gives a nice finished look.

Answer 4

Actually, you would probably like to get it under that "baseboard"...as the baseboard is normally the final piece put in after the floooring is laid. So in this case you would have to pull the baseboard off the wall, install your flooring up to the wall and finish it tight with the baseboard(otherwise you are going to have an unsightly crack for bugs to set up a home)

Answer 5

It needs to be under your baseboard. The baseboard sets on top of it. The laminate can not be butted up tight to the wall, need to leave a small gap for expansion. The baseboard also hides this small gap

Answer 6

You can do that and install quater round, but it will make your base molding look much smaller, about 1 1/2 inches shorter.

Answer 7

I agree with Gary S