The answer to the question is, “do the floors first!” Here’s why:
Removing and replacing flooring or carpeting is dirty work. If you paint first, and then do floors, there is a good chance that a lot of dirt, dust, sawdust or tile/stone dust will end up on your freshly painted walls and trim.
There is a possibility that the walls or trim may be damaged by the installation of the flooring. Scuffs, dings, and nicks sometimes happen, then the surface has to be touched up by the painters. If there are a lot of touch-ups, then there may be additional costs involved in have the painting contractor make a return trip.
A lot of homeowners think that they should do the floors after the painting because they don’t want the painters to spill on their brand new floors or carpeting. I can certainly understand their concern, but if you hire a professional painting company, you shouldn’t have that concern.
Once the new flooring has been installed, you’ll be able to protect the surface through the use of painter’s tape and drop cloths (masking). These two items are valuable tools that keep mess to a minimum and protect your floors.
Most professionals consider painting to be finish work. As a result, they prefer leaving it until the end of the job. With the right precautions in place, installing flooring before painting poses no risk of damage.