Should I Install my Floor Tile or my Baseboard Trim First?

Which is right, and which do you prefer? We discuss this in the latest Renovate Australia podcast …

Builders prefer to do the baseboards first and then bring the tile right up to the tile.

Home-owners generally prefer the look of doing the tile first and then installing the baseboard trim.

If it is installed with the tile up to the baseboard trim then you should leave about a 1/8″ gap that you should fill will caulking. Our gap was unfortunately filled with grout, which is now cracking because of movement of the walls and floors.

Cracking in the Grout between the tile and baseboard trim

Problems I have found with doing the baseboard trim and then the tile:

  • cut edge is exposed, so any imperfections in the trim is visible
  • border of the room is a visible joint
  • if you don’t want the visible trim you need to install some 1/4 round over the joint
  • Very difficult to replace the baseboard trim with new without damaging or replacing the tile

Selleys Mortar WorksWith the cracking that we have in the gap between our flooring and baseboard trim I picked up a product called Selleys Mortar Works. From what I was told it should be the correct product to fill the gap left by the cracked grout, so we will see how it performs…

It’s probably pretty obvious after listening to my podcast that my preference is for the baseboard trim to go over top of the flooring. But how do you prefer your floors and baseboard trims to be finished?

Caulking between the floor time and baseboard trim Selleys Mortar WorksCracking in the Grout between the tile and wall

Other sources of information:

Music is “Do What You Can” by Lee Rosevere

New Podcast for Renovate Australia – Pilot Episode

Renovate Australia Album ArtNow that we are back in Australia and starting to renovate, maintain, repair, and decorate our new house in Adelaide I think it’s time to start a new podcast!

We will see where this goes but the plan is to engage in more conversations, seek and give advice, and have some fun as we settle and work on our new house.

Music is “Do What You Can” by Lee Rosevere

Wooden Animal Heads

Having animal heads on the wall is a Canadian tradition. Unfortunately though I have a feeling that Australia Customs and Quarantine wouldn’t allow stuffed animal heads into the country…

A very cool option that I saw today was a wooden animal head.

Wall Mounted Wooden Animal Heads

I think that the wooden animal head here is an elk, but either way I think it looks pretty cool. Not sure I could talk my wife into it though … 😉

To see the full post that I found this cool mounted wooden animal head at check out Apartment Therapy – Joe & Brad’s Small Space with Big Style.