Hey everyone! I just put up a half wall in my wife's bathroom to separate her toilet, and I've discovered a frustrating issue with the baseboard. The contractor who built the house in 2016 installed the baseboard before the tile and didn't leave any gap. They even used nails right below the tile line, which means the baseboard is stuck unless I get a reciprocating saw to cut off the nails from behind. My question is, can I responsibly cut off 1/4" from the bottom of the 5180 baseboard to align it with the baseboard installed below the tile? The half wall is on top of the tile, so I'm in a bit of a bind here. I really don't want to replace all the baseboards in the bathroom. Thanks for any suggestions!
3 Answers
Yeah, this is pretty common with contractors looking to save time and money. You can use an oscillating tool to trim the baseboard flush with the tile. After that, adding some shoe molding at the edges will give it a sleek finish. Just make sure to go for real wood or PVC instead of MDF since bathrooms are prone to moisture.
Totally fine to cut the baseboard if it helps line everything up. Just make sure you use an oscillating tool and take your time so it's neat. It's best to match the top line of your baseboard; it’ll look much better that way. And yeah, shoe molding can help cover any gaps! Definitely avoid MDF in a bathroom though.
Sounds like cutting the baseboard is your best bet to get everything lined up correctly. An oscillating tool should do the trick, but you could also use a table saw if you want to be precise with cutting it down to the height of the tile. Just ensure it looks good once you're done, and you might even think about adding some trim to cover any unfinished edges.