My installer removed the baseboard trim, installed the wood, then immediately reinstalled the trim before sanding. The result? You can see a slight rounded edge along every baseboard where the sander couldn't reach. Don't tell me this is normal...

Well it IS normal if your intent is to put a 1/4 round or baseshoe at the bottom of the baseboards.
Otherwise, the trim should have been left off until the finishing was completed.

Thank you for confirming that - their offer was: A) remove base and then won't NEED the quarter-round, or B) Keep base, and then you'll need quarter-round. Seems like they screwed us.

Well all is not lost, just have them come back and install 1/4 round.

My wife would lose her mind - we paid extra by the linear foot to have them remove/reinstall the base to avoid that.

well if thats what you did you must let the floor guys know that. is the room size big? alot of times if it not to big we just throw shoe in for free. owners like the word free.
Jeff

Oh they knew, and I walked the owner around afterwards to complain but he couldn't do much at that point...

There are also lots of creaks in the new wood areas when you walk on them. We're not thrilled.

I hate to say this just because we hate it. but they won't be thrilled if you hold there last payment.
Jeff

That's not an option, they're paid.

welp, 2 things you should have showed or let them know ahead of time before the last payment or if there are a good company there should just slap some shoe in for free just to make you happy and to let you know they will do any thing to make the owner happy. no one likes an unhappy owner that might mad mouth them to there friends.
Jeff

I don't care if they threw in the shoe for free and washed my car - we don't want that and it won't look right here. I think we'll wait a few months and see if any other issues pop up, and then basically demand a redo of the complete job or take em to court and let the law sort it out. They apparently did some shoddy work that can't be fixed easily.

Well how is the overall work? It may be that you are focussed to closely on this trim issue, and the flooring contractor may have not clearly understood your desires. I am not defending anyone here, just an observation

In one day the can remove the trim, scrape and feather out the 'hill', coat it once more and come back the next day to reinstall the trim. Resanding is unnecessary.

Well I think a potential problem with that idea, if it works, may lead to the necessity of repainting the walls too. Who's financial responsibility would that be?