Baseboard

[Chigworthy]

I'm installing all new baseboard in our house. I've been getting conflicting information about painting it. Old school carpenters are telling me to paint it before installation. DIY websites are mostly saying to paint after installation.

I had planned on painting after installation, as you have to putty and sand the nail holes, then paint them anyway. We're using primed mdf baseboard, and I'm installing it before the new carpet comes in. I'm just wrapping up painting the walls. If I paint after installation, there is no need to mask off the floor, as it is down to the subfloor now. I would only need to mask off the walls. Our finish color on the baseboards will be a gloss swiss coffee color, which is very close to white, so I'm imagining only one coat of paint will be necessary on the pre primed boards.

Any ideas?

[Dan 'Hampton]

You can do primer and one coat before, last coat after install. You'll be forever pissed when you see the touch up marks when it's all finished if you prefinish. Plus you'll be able to compensate for mistakes in cutting or irregularities in the walls and or floors.

[Dan 'Hampton]

Also yeah most likely you'll need a second coat (to make the gloss consistant or you'll see brushlines)
or it will look like those hack jobs on flipping shows. If you have a steady enough hand and lay off the booze during the painting you won't need to mask the wall.

[Chigworthy]

You can do primer and one coat before, last coat after install. You'll be forever pissed when you see the touch up marks when it's all finished if you prefinish. Plus you'll be able to compensate for mistakes in cutting or irregularities in the walls and or floors.

That's how I'm looking at it, but I'm thinking I won't even need to paint it before, as the trim color is close to the pre-primed white of the boards.

[smiler grogan]

What Dan said is spot on also its just easier to paint when your standing upright then hunched over on the floor

[Chigworthy]

and lay off the booze
Not likely.

What Dan said is spot on also its just easier to paint when your standing upright then hunched over on the floor

Actually for me, working on sawhorses kills my back. I recently stripped a bunch of cabinet doors and my back no likey.

[smiler grogan]

Not likely.



Actually for me, working on sawhorses kills my back. I recently stripped a bunch of cabinet doors and my back no likey.

raise them up, or if kneeling on the floor works for you then problem solved.

[Chigworthy]

raise them up, or if kneeling on the floor works for you then problem solved.

I'm very comfortable on my knees.

[smiler grogan]

I'm very comfortable on my knees.
zing

[CaptainBlowhole]

Ask your plumber about this: I heave heard that if you fill the heating system with anti-freeze instead of water that there are great benefits to the longevity of your system as well as preventing ruptured pipes in the event the boiler crapped out in the middle of winter. I heard that anti-freeze retains the heat longer than water too, because its a little thicker. Just ask. He may say that the cost if more etc, but I think I would do it if I was in that position.

[Chigworthy]

Ask your plumber about this: I heave heard that if you fill the heating system with anti-freeze instead of water that there are great benefits to the longevity of your system as well as preventing ruptured pipes in the event the boiler crapped out in the middle of winter. I heard that anti-freeze retains the heat longer than water too, because its a little thicker. Just ask. He may say that the cost if more etc, but I think I would do it if I was in that position.

I live in CA, not the stone-age. We have natural gas out here. And chainsaws.

[Dan 'Hampton]

I was going to ask how to sink a boat in the plumbing thread.

[Chigworthy]

How the fuck does Home Depot's website not list any base board? Fucking hayseeds.

[Dan 'Hampton]

They got all the basic shit. Do yourself a favor and get the taller baseboard. Not that section 8 condo stuff.

[Chigworthy]

They got all the basic shit. Do yourself a favor and get the taller baseboard. Not that section 8 condo stuff.

We're using 3.5". The wife wanted 6" and I thought it was a bad idea because it doesn't really fit ou house, costs twice as much, more painting. So she finally emailed the designer this morning a week later after we talked about it. Guess which one the designer picked? Yep the exact same moulding in 3.5" that I had picked. Now it's going to be raining for my whole weekend so getting it delivered sucks a wet dick and I have to go back to painting. :wallbash: