Paint before or after installing floors?

JumpinJW

My house is gutted from a fire remodel. To save money, I plan to install hardwood floors myself.

The painter says that floors go last, but that he can work around anything.

I want to do the floors before installing doors & trim, then paint last. The general contractor says its not normal, but ok as long as I protect the floors.

Ideas?

titanoman

Not normal.

framer52

Same as the other post you started. Not that normal but as long as you are prepared to pay to alter the steps then go for it.

JumpinJW

My house is gutted from a fire remodel. To save money, I plan to install hardwood floors myself.

I want to do the floors before installing doors & trim, then paint last. The general contractor says its not normal, but ok as long as I protect the floors.

The painter says that floors go last, but that he can work around anything.

The foreman says that the pre hung doors will have to be undercut, which is better to do after they are installed, for better fit to the floor.

He also pointed out that shoe mold conforms to the floor better than baseboard, so gaps are hidden.

Should I just stick to the original plan flooring last?

8 years ago I undercut the doors & removed the trim when I put in ceramic. Then I did not use baseboards, and had some gaps to fill. That was 6 dumpsters ago.

JumpinJW

Who me? I knew that. So is shoe mold always used?

Jackofall1

What kind of hardwood floors? if its cleat or staple down I would paint after the install of the floor either that or you will have some touchup on the newly painted walls from the possible mallet marks.

Mark

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framer52

No, but what have you against using it?

framer52

He is talking of laminate or engineered.

jasin

Trim goes up last because you need to make it flush and square with everything else so paint it after the floor is installed. If you want to protect the floor and walls or whatever while painting then use painters tape and plastic on the floors.

housepaintingny

There is no standard way. If it was me I would prime, paint ceilings and paint one coat on the walls. Then after trim, floor and other installations I would prep and paint the trim and then second coat the walls.

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jsheridan

How you proceed depends upon your contract with the painter. If the painter estimated to paint over sub-floor, as opposed to finished floors, then ask him to add the cost difference and do it as you want. Most painters would have no problem however you wanted to do it, as long as you're willing to pay. Personally, I don't remove existing hardwood floors, or carpet, when I go to do repaints, so it's possible to do it. And, I don't make any distinction as to age of the floor in my determination to not get paint on it.

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DannyT

you want to do the floor after everyone else is finished except for the shoe molding being installed unless you want to trust whoever might be in the house working to care about your floors as much as you do.accidents do happen such as soilled paint dropping tools on a new floor, dragging stuff over it, stuff stuck to work boots. but its your floor.

oh'mike

I find it a neater job to do the hardwood before the trim and doors---faster to install the wood with no base molding---new doors are tight to the hardwood--no undercutting---no floor sander bumps into moldings or doors---

Prime and first coat the paint before starting if you wish---

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jasin

Floors can have slight variations of 1/16th or more. Nothing is perfect. So it is best to wait until after the flooring is installed. This way you can adjust the height of the base molding or door trim to whatever you need based on variations in the flooring. Also, if molding or trim is installed first you could mess it up from dust and whatnot that is kicked up from installing the flooring.

jasin

Also, installing trim and molding is considered finish carpentry. And its called "finish" carpentry because its done last. Hence, the word "finish".