“Empty Minimal Room With Window Shadow Pink Wall”, by Rawpixel.com, licensed under Freepik License.
The Flooring vs Walling Dilemma
Should you install flooring or paint walls first? Homeowners and contractors with renovation projects that require installing flooring and painting walls would face the precedence dilemma. Both tasks require major work that produces unpleasant wastes that accumulate and spill over to adjacent surfaces. Renovation practitioners agree that generally, flooring takes precedence as it causes a higher impact on walls than vice versa. Here are the key reasons why it is better to install flooring before painting walls.
Old Flooring Debris
Tearing up the old flooring is a tedious and messy task as debris and dirt gradually generate and accumulate. While taking protective measures, the amount of unpleasant particles and waste can take an unpredictable and overwhelming turn when things go wrong. If performing the wall coating first, dust from flooring works may land on the fresh wall coating, causing unsightly stains. Moreover, during the installation, equipment and tools may inadvertently cause dents to the walls, causing further blemishes. Wall surfaces are more delicate and thus more prone to stains and scrapes. Some flooring planks can be extensive and tricky to handle. Hence, if planks laying comes later, it increases the likelihood of scraping fresh wall paints or textures. The wall cleaning, repairing and touching up processes cause additional hassle and costs, which you would want to avoid or minimise.
"Grungy, Architecture, Wood, House, Floor...", licensed under Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0), cropped from original to illustrate old flooring debris.
Difficulty In Protecting Walls
Due to old flooring debris, it is more tricky and costly to protect walls and recover from blemishes. After flooring completion, laying protective coverings such as drop cloths or plastic sheets horizontally on the floor is relatively straightforward. As long as the protective covers are clean and non-abrasive, it would be safe to lay them on the newly installed planks or tiles. Conversely, if you perform wall painting first and then attach protective coverings on it, you risk rubbing them against fresh varnishes and causing blemishes. Hence, it is more practical to commence flooring works first with drop cloths or plastic sheets as wall protection. Nevertheless, ensure the protective coverings extend to the wall baseboard and finishing borders to shield against paint drips or plaster mix.
Wall Baseboard and Finishing Borders
Another reason flooring takes precedence is replacing or repainting wall baseboards and base finishing borders. It is logical to think of painting walls first to allow the paint to drip onto the old baseboard and then replace it. However, after replacing baseboards and borders, the wall may have nail holes or other blemishes that require repainting or refining. When choosing to paint walls in the latter stage, you can perform all painting work in one shot. This sequence minimises the amount of mess and thus makes the renovation project more efficient.
Also, depending on the new flooring height, you may need to replace the adjacent baseboards and borders for a smooth transition between the floorboards and the wall. If you install floorboards after working on walls, there may be exposed areas of old paint. This result would mean additional paint applications and consequently risk blemishes on baseboards, borders and floorboards. Conversely, when installing floorboards first, you can protect the finishing borders with painter’s tape and shield the baseboard with drop cloths.
“Baseboard Sample”, by Jesus Rodriguez, licensed under Creative Commons 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0).
Does Flooring Type Matter?
While each type of flooring may have different precautions and installations, it should still take precedence over wall painting. Some floorboard types like unfinished hardwood need sanding and finishing, which increases the likelihood of shavings and coatings splashing onto walls. Epoxy floors require elaborate layered coatings, touch-ups and protective sealants. Should unnoticed wall dust or paint trickle onto the floor surfaces, it will become a permanent part upon sealing. Therefore, generally, it is better to install flooring before painting walls.
NBL Express’ Premium Resilient Vinyl Flooring does not need sealing or coating for installation. We offer an efficient Uniclic locking system and safety properties that you can count on in renovating or upgrading homes and premises. We welcome you to enquire with our friendly consultants to learn more.