Take it from a 31 year professional installer put down the baseboards first leaving a gap at the bottom for the very best.
What first carpet or baseboard.
Baseboards go in first and then your tackless striping stands about 1 2 out from the baseboard.
When the carpet is install use a stretcher to get the carpet attached to the tackless.
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.
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.
Some professionals may have a strong preference but ultimately baseboards can be installed before or after carpet.
I ve always done it floor first then door casings then baseboards.
Reply 16 on.
How to install carpet first.
Generally the installation of carpet or baseboard is easier for whoever installs first.
Ask your carpet installer their preference to begin the discussion.
Mostly because the floors need some space at the walls to allow for expansion at least 1 2 or so.
There may be instances where you want to put the carpet down first.
As noted above some installers prefer that you not use this method because if the carpet should need to be re stretched or replaced for any reason they may need to remove the baseboards first.
The baseboard goes in first always the carpet installers don t like this if they have to install new thicker baseboard for the customer they have to remove the old tack and install new this is very time consuming and their usually on piece work.
In my house they had to go from carpet to tile and lino.
If the baseboards are installed first and then the floor tight to the baseboards then there can t be enough room for expansion.
October 24 2012 04 32 48 am there is an interesting technical issue with baseboard on modern construction that i would be willing to bet that most diyers never thought about until the installation starts looking like shit as you re nailing it up.
In addition the tack strip will be under the baseboards.
A really thick shag carpet can make it difficult to judge how high to place the trim.
Which comes first carpet or baseboard.
When you remove the excess use cutter made to slide along the wall and then drive the edge of the carpet down into that 1 2 space between the strip and the wall.
Many builders do not install flush to the floor compensating for height of carpet.
Nice taller baseboards should frame the room first prime caulk and base coat as above before you install carpet.