Mosaic Floor Tiling: Painting Baseboard after Laying Mosaic Floor Tile

After laying your beautiful mosaic floor tiling, you then install elegant-looking 5.25-inch-high baseboard.  How do you paint the baseboard to get professional results without slopping paint all over your new mosaic floor tiling?  The secret is, before installing the baseboard over the tile, put down blue painters tape on the floor in a position so the baseboard will be on top of the tape at least 1/4-inch.

Before getting to the point of installing and painting the new baseboard, let’s talk about the old baseboard.  Before laying your new mosaic floor tiling, completely remove the old baseboard.  Even if you like the old stuff, I suggest installing new material.  That way, you don’t have to worry about breaking it when removing it.  If you have the narrow 3-inch baseboard, you can instantly make the room look more elegant by installing wider 5.25-inch-high baseboard.  After the old baseboard is removed, lay the mosaic floor tiling up to the wall.  Then, when ready, install the new baseboard on top of the tiling.  Don’t leave the old baseboard down and tile up to the baseboard.  If you do, it looks so unprofessional.  If you’re going to spend the time and money to put down gorgeous new mosaic floor tiling, then do the job properly.  Remove the old baseboard, tile to the wall (it’s okay to leave a small gap between the wall and baseboard that’s less than the thickness of the baseboard, usually between 1/8-inch and 1/4-inch, assuming your new baseboard is 5/8-inch or more thick), and then installing new 5.25-inch-high baseboard on top of the tiling.  It just looks so much nicer and more professional.

Install the tape on the mosaic tile about 1/4-inch away from the wall.  Then, install the baseboard directly on top of the tape.  Put down a second piece of tape on the floor, overlapping the first piece by a hair, all around the baseboard to ensure a thick-enough width of tape so you don't slop any paint on the new mosaic floor tiling and grout.  Paint the baseboard with two coats of your favorite color of high-gloss paint (use high-gloss for all trim molding).  I prefer white, but not pure bright white.  Then, when the paint is dry, use a razor-blade knife with a new blade and run the knife along the edge of the baseboard cutting away the blue tape.  Angle the blade slightly so the tip cuts just a hair under the baseboard.  As long as you use a fresh sharp blade (i.e., change the blade after every 30 linear feet of cutting), the blue tape will cut precisely and you won't see the tape that remains under the baseboard.  This gives a clean, beautiful finish.  I believe putting the tape down before installing the baseboard and then installing the baseboard on top of the tape results in a more professional look after painting than if you were to install the baseboard first and then put down the tape adjacent to the edge of the baseboard.  The paint job doesn't look as perfect.  This method gives wonderfully professional results without slopping paint all over your beautiful new mosaic floor tiling.