I'm buying a new construction home and had a quick question about baseboard relative to hardwood flooring. I plan on installing the hardwood myself after we close. The builder offers an option to raise the baseboard off the sub floor to a specified height. If I'm going to install 3/4" hardwood, I was going to have them set the baseboard 3/4" off the sub floor. My thought was that this would allow me to slide the hardwood underneath the baseboard, eliminating the need for quarter round. However, after doing some more research, I'm learning that hardwood requires expansion space so now I'm guessing that the hardwood would run to the front edge of the baseboard, the remaining space would be my expansion zone and I'd still use quarter round.

In conclusion, I guess this option just allows you you to not loose 3/4" of your baseboard height if it was set directly on the sub floor.

If anyone could give me their thoughts on this, I'd appreciate it. Thanks.

Have them leave it off and if you can lay hardwood you should be able to put it on...or have them install it and R&R it so it's already cut for you. I don't like base shoe or quarter round.

Have them "tack it up". That way it's cut and pops off easier. Plus it lets the builder complete the job.
I like to avoid shoe & 1/4 round also. If your worried about adequate expansion, you can gain anotheer 1/2-5/8 by undercutting or taking a utility knife to the drywall.

Great, thanks very much for the tips.