Installing Baseboard Molding Before Carpet

You don t need to.

Installing baseboard molding before carpet.

This is not a good idea and will in most cases make it tougher on the carpet layers. But baseboard installation for carpet is a bit different than the norm. If adding baseboards after carpet is laid it should be installed at the same height as without carpet. In addition the tack strip will be under the baseboards.

If you re in one of these situations follow these instructions to install the trim after the carpet. 1st someday you will be replacing the carpet if you have the baseboards installed on top of the carpet you will have to remove them to pull up the old carpet. Professional looking baseboard installation can be achieved with a compound miter saw that can cut 45 degree corner angles at the molding ends. However consult with your installer to be.

The carpet installer can run the tack strip up to the trim then roll excess carpet under the trim. For most installers this is not a problem and can be done easily. This means that if the installation company needs to re stretch the carpet at a later date they may need to loosen some of the baseboards in order to pull the carpet up. Take it from a 31 year professional installer put down the baseboards first leaving a gap at the bottom for the very best.

Baseboards are often installed before flooring since they must be finished in place with either stain or paint and this is much easier without worrying about staining the hardwood tile or carpet. Baseboard installation for carpet baseboard trim installation is one thing that just anyone can do. Or you may be replacing the baseboards but leaving the carpet. This is because when installing the baseboards after carpet installation they tend to wedge the carpet in between the tack strips and baseboards like a vice.

A really thick shag carpet can make it difficult to judge how high to place the trim. For things like tile or hardwood you would want to give a to inch clearance for the installers to be able to put the flooring in and be able to slide the edges beneath the baseboards. Baseboard molding is fitted to the bottom of a wall for decoration and to hide unsightly blemishes and carpet fray. Some carpenters place the trim down to the subfloor or to the wood flooring.

Oftentimes it is best to install the baseboards after the carpet is installed simply because of these tack strips. If you are not intending to install quarter round or base shoe the baseboard should be.