Pros of Painting Before New Floors

Painting walls and ceilings first provides a few advantages:

Avoids paint splatters and drips on new flooring. Paint inevitably drips or splatters during the painting process. New floors would run the risk of damage if painted after installation.
Allows floors to be installed against finished walls. Finished walls give the flooring installers a clear boundary to work within. This allows precise cutting and fitting of flooring pieces.
Eliminates baseboard removal. With walls already painted, you can avoid prying off baseboards to paint behind them. This saves time and avoids baseboard damage.
Roomy space for painting. Without flooring installed, the rooms are clear and open for painting. Ladders and drop cloths can be positioned easily.
Enables floor protection during painting. The subfloor can be covered to guard against paint drips or spills during the painting phase.

Benefits of Installing Floors Before Painting

However, tackling floors first also has some advantages:

Avoids damage from painting prep. Floor installation often requires sanding, scraping, or grinding. Newly painted walls could get damaged during this prep work.
Prevents paint staining floor edges. When cutting in along floor trim, it’s easy to accidentally get paint on the flooring surface. Installing floors last prevents this.
Allows floors to be refinished after painting. If any floor finish damage occurs during the painting phase, the floors can be refinished after paint is complete.
Provides a finished surface for cutting in paint. The installed floor gives a straight edge for neatly cutting in wall paint along baseboards.
No need to cover floors during painting. With durable flooring in place, there’s no need to carefully protect the subfloor during painting.

Best Practice Recommendations

Here are some top tips for sequencing your project:

For hardwood floor refinishing, always paint first. Floors should be the last step to avoid finish damage.
For new carpeting, install it last after all painting is complete. Paint can easily stain carpet along edges.
For tile, vinyl, or laminate, the order is flexible. Consider painting first if concerned about paint splatters.
For major repairs or drywall work, paint surrounding areas after floors are in place. This allows floors to be protected.
In occupied homes, install flooring first in lived-in rooms, then paint. This allows partial use of the home during renovations.
For efficiency, assess each room and determine the best sequence. Rooms needing extensive prep are often best left until last.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should you paint before or after installing laminate floors?

It’s generally best to paint walls and ceilings before installing laminate flooring. This prevents paint drips or spills from staining and damaging the laminate boards during installation.

Should you paint baseboards before or after new carpet?

Paint baseboards after new carpeting is laid. This allows you to neatly cut in the paint along the carpet edge without getting paint on the new flooring.

Should doors be painted before or after new flooring?

Paint doors before installing new floors. New flooring should be laid under already painted doors and door jambs for a cleaner finished look.

Can new floors be installed over paint splatters?

It’s best to avoid getting paint splatters and drips on the subfloor. However, minor splatters on the edges can be covered by trim or flooring underlayment during installation.

Should floor refinishing be done before or after kitchen cabinet painting?

For the best results, have floors professionally refinished before painting kitchen cabinets. This prevents dust from sanding floors from settling on newly painted surfaces.

Should you paint baseboards or lay flooring first in bathrooms?

In bathrooms it’s usually best to lay the flooring first, then follow up by painting the baseboards. This provides a clean painted line along the flooring edge.

Conclusion

Determining whether to paint first or install new flooring depends on the specific project. To make the right choice, consider the flooring type, the scope of prep work, efficiency factors, and potential for damage. Carpeting and hardwood floors often benefit most when installed last after all painting is complete. Meanwhile, resilient flooring like tile or laminate provide flexibility in sequencing with painting. Careful prep and protection during each phase is key to keeping both your floors and walls looking beautiful.

Should You Paint Walls Before or After Refinishing or Laying Floors?

This comprehensive article provides helpful tips and considerations when deciding whether it is better to paint walls before or after refinishing or installing new floors in a home improvement project. It outlines the pros and cons of both approaches, gives best practice recommendations based on flooring type, and answers frequently asked questions to aid in making the right choice for your particular situation. Key factors covered include avoiding damage, efficiency, proper prep work, and achieving quality results. With the insights provided throughout the detailed paragraphs, subheadings, and FAQ section, readers should feel well-equipped to determine the optimal order of operations for their flooring and painting work. Careful planning using the guidance given can help ensure both beautiful walls and floors.