should base molding (trim) or carpet be installed first?

Question

I am in the process of finishing my basement. Im at the point to have carpet installed. The carpet folks are telling me the base trim should be installed prior to the carpet being installed - and should it about 1/2" off the floor. The trim guy is telling me the carpet should be installed first.

Who's right??

Answer 1

Install the rug first. You will have to have a tool to pull the carpet tight. Then you will have to fasten it down. You had to have gone to a cheap rug installer to get the answer you got. If you installed the trim first what kind of a mess would you be seeing When your tacked down the carpet. I would not use the carpet installers as you would not be satisfied with their suggestion as you would be with their installation. I may be a woman but I know this is the right answer for you.

Answer 2

Carpet first. Think about it.

You lay the carpet down and can run it to the edge of the wall and then trim it off. If the trim is already in place then you can't run the carpet all the way to the edge of the wall. He would then have to shove the carpet under the trim possibility damaging the carpet or the trim unless he just wants to run the carpet upto the trim. The trim going down last also serves to keep the carpeting in place more securely. Drag some big piece of furniture on the carpet and you'll understand this better. The carpet guy sounds like an idiot and you may want to consider using someone with a little more brains. Granted, this isn't rocket science but this guy doesn't sound like he can even find the launch pad. If you use him anyway, then make sure that you watch him put down the padding that you have chosen as well (and not something inferior or even nothing at all) and that he uses sufficient nail strips to secure the carpet. The carpet guy doesn't sound too competent which is often part and parcel to dishonest. I may be wrong though. The trim guy sounds like he knows what he's doing - you may do better listening to him.

Answer 3

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RE:

should base molding (trim) or carpet be installed first?

I am in the process of finishing my basement. Im at the point to have carpet installed. The carpet folks are telling me the base trim should be installed prior to the carpet being installed - and should it about 1/2" off the floor. The trim guy is telling me the carpet should be installed...

Answer 4

Carpet Molding

Answer 5

The base molding should be installed after walls are up and then the carpet should be installed and then the quarter round moulding should go down. This will give a clean and finished look to your rooms.

Answer 6

Carpet Moulding

Answer 7

the carpet guy is right base first but it should be installed tight to the subfloor it does not need a space put your tackless 1/2" off base install padding then the carpet gets tucked between tackless and base .

Answer 8

If you install it first, you have to leave a gap underneath for the carpter to slide under. I would have the carpet installed first. What the trim guy said is accurate. If you install the trim first and leave to big of a gap for the thickness of the carpet, there will be a space between the trim and the carpet.

Answer 9

either is correct. I prefer installing the trim after the carpet and not having to worry about the proper spacing.

Answer 10

I'd do the carpet first. The knee kickers that they use to install the carpet can slip and mangle your freshly installed trim. It's always better to cover up a gash in your wall with trim than replace a nice piece of trim that's been whacked.

Answer 11

No need to remove the base board, just the shoe or 1/4 round . After laying the floating floor, replace the 1/4 round. Be sure to leave ample space between the new floor and the existing baseboard, but not more than the width of the 1/4 round. (usually 1/4 round is 3/4' ). Otherwise the floor will buckle.

Answer 12

He is. Imagine the mess if you want to replace that carpeting??? You'd have to tear off all the molding. The tack strip goes in front of the base molding and then the ends are tucked into the 1/2 inch space.

Answer 13

If you put the molding up first, the carpet installers will no doubt scratch and dent it because they have to put tack strips on the floor and use a "pusher" to stretch the carpet. I would hold the molding until after the carpet is installed. It will look better and you'll get a much better job.

Answer 14

After all the answers that you have received, you should listen to the carpet installer. He knows what he's doing.

Answer 15

the carpet folks

.. when installing lino/tile floors you take off the baseboards and then put it back when the flooring is done.

The baseboard stays in place when doing a carpet, if you put in the trim after the carpet it will either leave a gap or it will be installed above the carpet and that wouldn't look right.

Answer 16

basemolding goes after the carpet a good carpenter can make the base molding g flush with the carpet. half an inch above is very unorthodox. it should rest at th top of the carpet

Answer 17

in my house the carpet is to the wall under the trim

Answer 18

I would find some new carpet folks, as it seems the DON'T know what they are talking about

Answer 19

it should be installed first, then he can tuck the threads of the cut carpet up under it,,

Answer 20

Carpet...trim goes over the carpet to hide any staples used to tack the carpet down, and help holds the edges down.

Answer 21

Trim first, with the spacing they've given you.

Answer 22

the carpet should be installed first then the base board