I have read lots of previous posts looking for this answer, and couldnt quite find it clearly.

My home will start construction this week, and I will be installing my own glued down, engineered 3/8 BR111(will buy from this site) after closing on the home.

I am looking for things to tell the builder to do to make my job easier. They will install cheap carpet that I will pull right back up. Should I tell them to put the base boards at a certain height? Or maybe leave them off all together. or maybe let them install them with no caulking and only a few nails so I can remove them easier. They may have a problem at closing without an unfinished house.

Any tips and or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Knowing I will be putting hardwood in, I should be able to set myself up for success ahead of time. Thank you in advance for any help.

i don't have a new home, but i removed every baseboard before installing the flooring. for me, it gives a better finished look when they are put back.

just my opinion.

>I am looking for things to tell the builder to do to make my job easier.

Builder's love that.

Some recent talk re baseboards:

http://www.hardwoodinstaller.com/hardwo ... php?t=3558

http://www.hardwoodinstaller.com/hardwo ... php?t=3557

You may not pass a final inspection without them installed

Der is correct. While your home may pass the local building dept. for occupancy for some unfinished trim items (baseboards), the lender (mortgage lein holder) does not like to close escrow or fund a loan until the home is complete, and that includes the baseboards. If the baseboards will be of the taller style, you could have the builder install and paint them, and then use a baseshoe after the wood flooring is installed. This is what me and my builders often do. But if the baseboards are to be short (2"), then you will need to remove them first, install the floors then re-install the baseboards. Otherwise, baseshoe to short baseboards looks funny.

Thanks for your help everyone. The builder is david weekley and they probably will have an issue closing on the house with the baseboards not hung and nailed and caulked correctly. I will ask anyway at our next meeting, as well as find out the size(tall or short) of the boards.

If I was to not say a thing and they installed the boards with carpet flooring and then i go in and pull up the carpet, any idea where that would put the baseboards in regards to height? to high for the 3/8 wood fllor or too low? I guess i could just use the shoe molding, i just really liked the look without it. I have been told getting the molding off without damaging it or the wall is very hard. True?

Thanks again
Randy

sorry guys should have read the posts in the previous links above. It answered alot of questions. Thanks all