Do
you want to replace your old floor without undertaking a major renovation? The good news is that in most cases, you can install a new floating floor—SPC vinyl, engineered wood, or laminate—without removing the existing baseboards. This technique, popular among homeowners in Brossard, Longueuil, and Saint-Lambert, saves time, reduces costs, and prevents damage to walls.
However, this method isn’t suitable for every situation. It depends on the type of flooring you’re installing, the height of your current baseboards, and the condition of your subfloor. In this comprehensive guide, the team at L’Artisan Espace Design explains exactly how to do it, when this technique works, and when it’s better to opt for the traditional method.
Why Avoid Removing Baseboards?
Removing and reinstalling baseboards may seem like a simple task, but it can quickly turn into a headache. Baseboards that are glued or secured to old plaster break easily. Those that have been painted multiple times tend to peel the paint off the walls during removal. And if you have solid wood baseboards that are 3 ½ inches or wider, replacing them after installation costs more than you might expect.
Installing the flooring under the existing baseboards saves you all that trouble. The result is clean, the joints are discreet, and you can easily save a day’s worth of work on a medium-sized project. On the South Shore, this is actually the method preferred by most of our professional installers for quick renovations.
What types of flooring can be installed without removing the baseboards?
This method works well for low- to medium-thickness floating floors. Here are the most common options:
SPC (Stone Polymer Composite) and LVP
vinyl flooring.
SPC vinyl is the ideal choice for this technique. Its total thickness generally ranges from 6 mm (1/4 in.) to 8 mm (5/16 in.), making it very easy to slide under most standard baseboards. It’s also waterproof, making it the top choice for kitchens, bathrooms, and basements on the South Shore.
For click-lock LVP (Luxury Vinyl Plank) vinyl flooring, installation without baseboards is standard in the industry. Shrinkage and expansion are minimal, allowing for a gap of just 6 to 8 mm (1/4 in. to 5/16 in.) against the walls—which can easily be concealed by existing baseboards.
Engineered Wood Flooring (Click-Lock Floating)
Click-lock (or click-clack) engineered wood flooring works well with this method if its total thickness does not exceed 12 mm (1/2 in.). If it’s thicker than that, it may be difficult to slide it under the baseboards without slightly lifting the bottom of the baseboards to clear the way.
Note that engineered wood requires a slightly larger expansion gap than vinyl (about 10–12 mm), especially in rooms exposed to the seasonal humidity fluctuations typical of Quebec.
Laminate Flooring (Floating Laminate)
Floating laminate flooring can also be installed without removing the baseboards. Its thickness ranges from 7 to 12 mm (1/4 in. to 1/2 in.) depending on the product line. It is more sensitive to humidity than vinyl, making it less suitable for basements or kitchens, but excellent for living areas in South Shore homes.
What CANNOT Be Installed Without Removing Baseboards
Solid hardwood flooring that is glued or nailed down cannot be installed under existing baseboards—its installation requires access all the way to the wall. The same applies to ceramic and porcelain tiles. For these types of flooring, removing the baseboards (or at least cutting them down) is essential.
Undercutting baseboards: the professional
method
If your flooring is too thick to simply slide under the baseboards, there’s an intermediate technique that professionals use systematically: undercutting the baseboards.
The principle is simple: you cut the bottom of the baseboards—and sometimes the door frames—to the exact height of the new flooring plus its expansion gap. This creates just enough space to slide the new flooring in without touching the walls or trim.
To do this job neatly, use an oscillating saw (multitool) or a floor-cutting saw designed for undercutting. The tool is positioned directly against a piece of the new flooring (placed flat on the subfloor) to ensure the exact cutting height. The result is clean and virtually invisible once the flooring is installed.
Step-by-Step Guide: Installing SPC Vinyl Flooring Without Removing Baseboards
Step 1: Check the Available Height Under the Baseboards
First, measure the space between the bottom of your baseboards and your current subfloor. You need at least the thickness of your new flooring plus 2–3 mm (1/16 in. – 1/8 in.) of clearance. If there isn’t enough space, plan to trim the subfloor (see previous section).
Step 2: Prepare the subfloor
The subfloor must be clean, dry, and as level as possible. Recommended tolerance: 3/16 of an inch per 10 linear feet (5 mm per 3 meters). Larger bumps or depressions can create pressure points that will cause the new floor to crack or warp. Use a self-leveling compound to correct significant irregularities.
Also remove any existing flooring if necessary (old carpet, glued vinyl sheets) to avoid adding too much height and compromising the clearance of your doors.
Step 3: Plan the Board
Layout
Calculate the number of rows and plan so that the first and last rows are wider than half a board (ideally at least 2 inches). If this isn’t the case, trim the first row slightly to balance it out. Sketch your layout on paper or use a flooring layout app before you begin.
Step 4: Allow for the correct
expansion gap
Leave an expansion gap of 6 to 10 mm (1/4 in. to 3/8 in.) between the floor and the wall (or baseboards) all around the room. This gap will be hidden by the existing baseboards—that’s exactly the advantage of this method. Use spacer blocks or pieces of flooring as guides to maintain a consistent gap throughout the installation.
Step 5: Install the flooring in the direction of the light
The general rule is to install the planks in the direction of the main source of natural light (perpendicular to the windows). This minimizes the visibility of the seams. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the direction of the click joints and the installation order. For irregularly shaped rooms, always start with the main area and work toward the smaller spaces.
Step 6: Cut the planks around obstacles
For cuts around door frames and radiators, use the template technique: place a plank against the obstacle, trace the outline to be cut, then cut it with a jigsaw. For a professional finish, the cuts must be clean and precise to the millimeter.
Step 7: Install quarter-round molding if necessary
If the expansion gap extends slightly below the baseboards after installation, quarter-round molding (or base molding) can be nailed to the bottom of the baseboards to cover the gap. Important: These moldings must be attached to the baseboards or the walls—never directly to the floating floor, as they would prevent it from expanding.
Common Mistakes to Avoid on the South
Shore
Based on our experience in Brossard and Longueuil, here are the mistakes homeowners most often make when installing flooring without baseboards:
- Forgetting the expansion gap: this is the number one mistake. Without sufficient expansion space, the floor will warp or lift after a few weeks, especially with Quebec’s humidity fluctuations.
- Failing to check the subfloor: An uneven subfloor creates pressure points that cause the new floor to crack and can break the joints.
- Attaching quarter-round molding to the floor rather than to the baseboards: This mistake prevents expansion and can cause the floor to lift or break.
- Installing without underlayment on concrete: Without a vapor barrier, moisture rises and damages the floor within a few months.
- Cutting the boards too short: It’s better to have a little extra clearance than a board that’s too long and presses against the wall.
When is it absolutely necessary to remove the baseboards?
Despite the advantages of installing without removal, certain situations still require removing the baseboards. This is the case when:
- You are installing solid hardwood flooring that is nailed or glued down.
- You are installing ceramic or porcelain tile.
- Multiple layers of existing flooring (old laminate, vinyl, plywood) make the subfloor too high.
- Your baseboards are very low (less than 3 inches high) and won’t adequately cover the expansion gap.
- You want a perfectly finished result with no visible quarter-round molding.
Should you hire a professional or do it yourself?
Installing flooring without baseboards is feasible for skilled DIYers in large, simple spaces (living room, bedroom). However, for kitchens with numerous cutouts, bathrooms, staircases, or irregularly shaped spaces, hiring a professional guarantees a clean and long-lasting result.
At L’Artisan Espace Design, our professional installers have been working on the South Shore for many years. We’re experts in subfloor preparation and floating installation techniques for all types of homes—from condos in Longueuil to single-family homes in La Prairie. We’ll provide you with a free, detailed estimate before we begin.
FAQ — Frequently Asked Questions About Installing Flooring Without Removing Baseboards
Can SPC vinyl be installed over existing ceramic tile without removing the baseboards?
Yes, in most cases. SPC vinyl can be installed over existing ceramic tile if the tile is in good condition (no broken or lifted tiles), stable, and relatively flat. However, the combined thickness of the ceramic tiles and the vinyl may cause issues under the baseboards if they are short. Check the available height before you begin, and trim the
baseboards
if necessary.
Is an underlayment required?
For floors on concrete (basement or slab), a vapor barrier is absolutely required to prevent moisture from rising. For floors over wood (upper floors), an acoustic underlayment improves sound comfort and protects the new flooring. Some SPC vinyls already have a built-in underlayment—in this case, do not add another one unless the manufacturer recommends it.
How much height will the new flooring add?
This depends on the product chosen and whether an underlayment is used. Generally: SPC vinyl without a built-in underlayment + thin vapor barrier = 7 to 9 mm (1/4 in. to 3/8 in.). SPC vinyl with a built-in underlayment = 8 to 10 mm (5/16 in. to 3/8 in.). Floating engineered wood + underlayment = 14 to 16 mm (9/16 in. to 5/8 in.). Laminate + underlayment = 10 to 14 mm (3/8 in. to 9/16 in.). Be sure to take these measurements into account when assessing the impact on your doors and thresholds.
Can you install flooring in a bathroom without removing the baseboards?
Yes, if you’re using waterproof SPC vinyl. However, the joint between the floor and the baseboards must be completely watertight—use a high-quality silicone sealant to seal this area. Avoid engineered wood and laminate flooring in the bathroom, even with proper expansion gaps, as ambient humidity can cause them to warp over time.
What should you do if doors no longer close after installation?
This is one of the most common issues when installing new flooring without removing the old covering. If the new floor is too high, doors will scrape or fail to close. The solution: Remove the door from its hinges and plane down the bottom by 3 to 5 mm (1/8 in. to 3/16 in.), depending on the space required. A carpenter or experienced installer can do this job quickly. Be sure to factor this step into your budget if you’re layering multiple flooring layers.
Should the existing baseboards be painted before or after installation?
After. If you paint the baseboards before installation, you risk damaging the paint when trimming or handling the boards. It’s more efficient to paint (or repaint) the baseboards once the floor is installed, taking care to apply masking tape over the new flooring.
How long does it take to install a floating floor without removing the baseboards?
For a professional, a 200-sq. ft. (18–19 m²) room takes 3 to 5 hours to install. For a DIYer, expect it to take 8 to 12 hours for the same area, including subfloor preparation. An experienced installer can complete an entire house (main floor) in 2 to 3 days.
Can SPC vinyl flooring be installed in a basement in Brossard without an underlayment?
Technically, some SPC vinyls have a built-in sound-dampening underlayment and can be installed directly on concrete. However, on the South Shore, where basements are exposed to significant humidity fluctuations, we always recommend adding a 6-mil polyethylene membrane between the concrete and the vinyl, even with a built-in underlayment. The cost is minimal, and the protection is significant.
What is the difference between a floating floor and a glued or nailed floor?
A floating floor is not attached to the subfloor—the planks click together and rest freely, held in place by their own weight and the perimeter walls. This method allows for seasonal expansion and contraction without warping. A glued-down or nailed-down floor is directly attached to the subfloor—it offers greater stability and less of a “hollow feel” underfoot, but cannot be installed under baseboards.
Does L’Artisan Espace Design provide free estimates for flooring installation?
Absolutely. At L’Artisan Espace Design, every estimate is free and non-binding. We’ll come to your home in Brossard, Longueuil, Saint-Lambert, La Prairie, or the surrounding areas to assess your subfloor and existing baseboards and recommend the best solution. We’ll provide you with a detailed price quote before we begin—no surprises on the bill.
Can a new floor be installed over an old floating floor?
Yes, it’s possible if the old floor is in good condition and securely fastened. But this approach has its limitations: each added layer increases the floor height and creates a higher risk of problems with doors and thresholds. As a general rule, we recommend removing the old floating floor before installing a new one to ensure a sound foundation and control the final thickness.
Conclusion: Smart Installation for a Flawless
Result
Installing flooring without removing the baseboards is an efficient, cost-effective, and accessible method that’s perfectly suited for renovations on the South Shore. Whether you choose waterproof SPC vinyl for your basement in Brossard or engineered wood for your living room in Longueuil, the key is to properly prepare the subfloor, allow for expansion gaps, and use the right tools.
If you have any doubts about the feasibility of your project or if your space has complex layouts, the experts at L’Artisan Espace Design are here to guide you. Visit our showroom in Brossard or contact us for a free estimate—we love beautiful floors and want yours to be perfect.
Do you have a flooring project on the South Shore? Request a free estimate from the team at L’Artisan Espace Design.
