Install Baseboard Molding Before 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.

Install baseboard molding before carpet.

Just hold it up about 3 8. This can make the carpet installation slightly more challenging and you need to be careful not to damage the baseboard when installing the tack strips. 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. They tuck the carpet under it.

How to install new base trim over an existing carpet. Needless to say i am furious that i need to repaint much of the baseboard in 4 rooms and a stairwell due to the negligence of passing this info on to me from both lowes and the installers. Otherwise they get the tack strip too close to the wall and you won t get the carpet out years from now without taking the base off again. Installing base molding before carpet is like installing window door casing before the window door.

When installing baseboards before carpet ask the installer how large of a gap to leave between the floor and the trim e g. If you do you ll likely end up with wavy uneven molding. If installed before the carpet you need to leave a gap between the floor and the baseboard. For most installers this is not a problem and can be done easily.

When installing the molding don t simply follow the flooring. We always install the baseboard after the hard surfaces but before carpet. It would have been nice if the installers or the carpet sellers lowes had suggested i use painters tape to cover the baseboards to avoid the damage they knew would occur during installation. Use a laser level to shoot a reference line all the way around the room then do your best to line the molding up with the line.

Generally choosing whether to install baseboards before or after the carpet is a matter of preference.