How to Install Vinyl Baseboards in Your Home
Lay down your new knowledge when you talk to a flooring pro
This project can take a long time to complete if you’re doing it in your off-time. Hiring a pro ensures a job done well and a quicker turnaround—plus you get your weekends back.
- Measuring tape
- Caulking gun
- Sharp utility knife
- Towel, carpet square, or kneepads
- Speed square
- Vinyl baseboard
- Vinyl adhesive
- Finishing caulk
- Cleaning supplies
Installing a vinyl baseboard is an excellent, low-cost way to spruce up a room. The material is one of, if not the best, for rooms that frequently see a lot of water use, such as kitchens and bathrooms. However, you may be wondering how exactly to install vinyl baseboard on your own. Learn how to tackle this mid-level project in one day or less.
Measure the Walls
Photo: Niko_Dali/Adobe StockBefore 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.
Gather Your Supplies
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.
Thoroughly Clean the Floor and Walls
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 and Cut the Baseboard
Photo: Liudmila Chernetska/ istock/ Getty ImagesMeasure 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
Check the Cut Section Against the Wall
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.
Apply Adhesive to the Cut 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.
Attach the Baseboard to the Wall
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.
Caulk Recessed Areas
Photo: audioundwerbung/ istock/ Getty ImagesIf 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.
How to Handle Corners
Use a smart edge, sometimes called a smart cutter, and a utility tool to make 45-degree angle cuts for inside angles. While you can line up baseboards and overlap them, it won’t look as professional or clean.
For outside corners where you need to wrap the baseboard around an edge, use a heat gun or hair dryer to heat up the vinyl so it's easier to bend. Make sure it's not too hot, otherwise you could melt the adhesive or the baseboard itself.
Avoiding Vinyl Baseboard Installation Mistakes
If you follow the steps above, your work should go smoothly. That being said, all homes are different, so make sure you avoid the following common mistakes:
Not cutting corners (literally): Matching corners is simple, but some people skip this step. Try not to.
Applying too much or not enough adhesive: Make sure you use the adhesive as directed by the manufacturer. Otherwise, use baseboard with pre-applied adhesive.
Cutting too early: Measure the wall and the piece twice before cutting.
Bending the baseboard: To make the vinyl flush with the corners, use a heat gun or hair dryer to make the material more pliable.
Not applying consistent pressure: When adhering, use a roller or a 2x4 to ensure the same pressure along the entire baseboard.
DIY vs. Hiring a Pro
The cost of baseboard installation by a pro runs around $1,100 on average, but DIYing it is a great, low-consequence project. If you choose to go it alone, you can expect to pay around 30% of the cost of a pro install..
That being said, you may want to reconsider applying baseboards to your entire home simply due to the time sink involved. While a room or two can take a day, an entire home can take a weekend or more. Consider if this is the best use of your time—if not, talk to a baseboard installation pro near you to discuss pricing.
Vinyl has pros and cons just like any other type of baseboard material. For example, vinyl is prone to warping under heat. It can crack if there are large humidity shifts, and it simply doesn’t look as luxurious as wood. Because of these reasons, vinyl baseboard is often installed in rooms like garages and bathrooms versus living rooms and bedrooms.
You can certainly paint vinyl baseboards, but you may want to consider why you would. Vinyl baseboards are not very expensive, and if you’re considering painting baseboards over 5 years old, you may want to consider simply replacing them with a color you like—there is an enormous range of color options for this material, and replacement won’t cost too much more than painting them.
Vinyl baseboards are exceptionally long-lasting when compared to their cost, and on average should last anywhere from 8 to 25 years. Factors that influence their lifespan are interior humidity levels, temperature, adhesive strength, and how much they are damaged. Baseboards in a busy garage will last far less time than those in a guest bathroom, for example.
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