I think Howard did a great job, particularly with the pictures. Oh, now SP is gonna want to know about his other article Don't know..just can't get in the mood.

Caulk Gaps Under Baseboards Without The Mess

Excellent article. Cant wait to try it. Thanx for the info Howard

Thanx Keith! I was telling SP "I'm a celebrity, can't talk to me now" ,lol

I read it! It was excellent! Should we call you Sir Howard now?



Ya, I been trying for months to get you motivated on that one and now Howard takes cuts in line!

Thanks! My heads big enough already after Ken posted that Oh, just Sir is good

I have a funny feeling your gonna have a doozy article coming up.

it was great article and helped me doing better job on caulking... wow

Just worked with a guy who likes to let the caulk set-up, then cut with razor at line thand then pull it. Have to say his came out pretty neat, but it was over stained concrete. Different strokes foir different folks. I can't wint to come back the next day just to pull tape so Howards makes more sense to me.

Few things that bother me with that...
1) Using a razor on a wood floor.
2) Cutting through set caulk to pull the tape.
3) Marking up the baseboards
4) Clean corners

I can go on if you want ? Good thing you like Howard's way better

Please do, I am all about perfection.

Don't try that on a floater!

Every hear of silicone caulk?

I usually push down pretty hard on the base over a floater.
If you have problems with your floaters bouncing that much...your substrates out of spec,or your using the wrong underlayment.

When you caulk to the floor with the baseboards, You are gluing the perimeter. Same with filling the expansion space.

Many floating instruction actually say, do not caulk trim to floor. Saw it in some specs the other day. Can remember who's.

They are also learning about filling the expansion space. Do it in the winter, and come summer, noises. Do it in the summer and come winter, gaps.

Give me a break,I would have to disagree with that. There's no way that using a flexible silicone to fill a 1/16", or whatever gap for that matter at the bottom of baseboard, on a floater, for cosmetics, is filling, or equal to filling and compromising the expansion gap. You are not "glueing the perimeter"This is not going to alter the parallel movement of a floater. Needless to say this tiny bit of silicone caulk doesnt affect the expansion space or the movement of the floor. I would like to know which manufacturer states this. How bout another angle why this shouldn't be done.

It is a form of adhesive albeit a very flexible one Howard. I have filled them on occasion and have not heard of any issues. I see gaps usually when installing 16ft base. It spans longer areas than your 10 foot flatness spec.

I can't see a little siliconized caulk, or painters caulk under a moulding altering movement. It's not like your using PL or Best.
Pianos, safes,pool tables, and all types of very heavy furniture, don't alter movement.
That caulking isn't going to stop that floor from moving, even substantial movement. Hasn't proved otherwise to me for years. Let's say you were to have major movement, that still isn't stopping it, and your looking at other unrelated issues.

On another note....Even if your within 10' flatness spec, and a 16' baseboard...Your still gonna have gaps under the base due to overwood and handscraped planks, or distressed.