Hello,

I am in Los Angeles, inland and getting ready to install 3/4" pre-finished white oak in mid July.

I really do not want to remove the baseboard because they are completely attached to the house. Even the original floor which I am tearing out was installed after the baseboards. Tearing these out will create a lot of headache with the plaster and paint, etc.

1. So, will just using quarter rounds be enough to hide the expansion gap?

2. If I am installing in the summer, do I need as much expansion gap because if anything I should expect the wood to contract?

3. Is los angeles, as susceptible to expansion and contraction? I have no heating or cooling in my house.

I do not want to account for the ridiculous 3/4" expansion, only to have my floors contract and expose gaps near the quarter round. By having 3/4, you need to be covered 1.5" total. That is too much for me who does not want to remove and reinstall baseboards.

Thanks for your input.

A professional would know what to do. I've demo'd base on plastered walls.

You should get an idea of what the new floor is likely to do from a study of the old floor being removed, providing the new material has similar moisture content. What's the local historical relative humidity look like in the summer compared to the other months?