How to Install Vinyl Baseboards in Your Home

Before you can even purchase supplies, you need to measure the length of the wall where you'll be applying the baseboard. You need to be exact since you’ll be cutting the vinyl, so any wrong cuts can forfeit the entire piece. Write down your measurements to make sure you don't lose track of them.

Get everything you need in one place. Your cutting tools will be the measuring tape, utility knife, speed square, and a piece of wood to cut the vinyl on. Your tools used to stick the baseboard to the wall will be your caulking gun, trowel, and heat gun or hair dryer. Use an old carpet square, rolled-up towel, or kneepads to protect your knees since you’ll be primarily working on the ground.

You don't need to use chemicals unless there's residue on the wall—wiping with a wet towel is usually enough. Make sure you sweep the floor and clean it as well, just so you have a surface free of dirt or dust that could affect the adhesive. The wall needs to be clean; otherwise, the baseboard might not stick.

Measure the baseboard and wall at least twice. If there's someone else in the house, have them measure independently.  What you're trying to do is eliminate errors, so the more information you can gather, the better.

A good tip is to measure from both sides, or backwards. This negates any error you may have made measuring from just one side

Test each section by holding it against the wall before applying adhesive. This is just another way to check your cuts and make sure you measured the wall correctly. We recommend doing this piece by piece—if you cut all the pieces first and make a mistake, it could have a domino effect, requiring you to cut more than just one section.

Before giving instructions, make sure your vinyl baseboard doesn’t have pre-applied adhesive. If any plastic sheeting is attached to the wall side, peel a corner and see if it’s sticky. If so, you won’t need to add any additional adhesive. 

If not, use the separate adhesive as instructed. These often come with a spreading nozzle that applies the adhesive in shallow grooves. If not, and you only have a nozzle, you’ll need to apply the adhesive and use a trowel to spread it. If the adhesive is too thick when you press the vinyl to the wall, it may not stick, can bubble over time, damage the wall, and be a mess to clean.

Firmly press the baseboard against the wall. Vinyl baseboards are rarely nailed or stapled in place, so make sure you hold the piece long enough for the adhesive to set. Don’t be tempted to press furniture against the baseboard—you don’t want to glue twice.

If you want the baseboard completely flush against the wall, you need to pipe caulking into the gap between the baseboard and the wall. However, for vinyl baseboards, this isn't that common, as the adhesive does most of the heavy lifting in terms of closing that gap.