Install carpet or baseboards first?

11 years ago

We are updating our whole house with new carpeting, painting, baseboards and trim, stairway etc. I have removed the baseboards and have painted the ceiling and walls. Now do I install the new baseboards and then have the carpet installed, or do I have the carpet installed and then install the new baseboards?

I've posed this question at all the carpeting retailers I have been to and the answers have been 50% one way, and 50% the other so now I'm really confused on which way to go so thought I'd ask here.

Thanks.

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Featured Answer

PRO

Brickwood Builders, Inc.

11 years ago

You can get by with taller baseboards but all of the trim in the room should be kept to a similar scale, if that makes sense. Meaning look at your baseboards in conjunction with your casings and other trim mouldings (such as crown or chair rail). The height of the ceiling comes into play as much as the size of the room. You can easily go with a 5"-6" baseboard - not sure what you were looking at as standard. If you think about it, many older period homes have smaller rooms but large mouldings reflective of the period. Again, just keep everything to scale.

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Comments (6)

PRO
Brickwood Builders, Inc.
11 years ago
Please put the baseboards in and have them sanded, primed caulked and painted prior to putting the carpet in. It will be difficult to get a good paint job on new wood baseboards with the carpet already installed. Just tell the company where you purchase the carpet that the baseboards are new and you want to make sure that they are not scuffed up. I would expect that a small amount of touchup would need to be done on the baseboards, but not major.
em57
11 years ago
Put the baseboards back on after.
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PRO
Design & Decor By Shelley
11 years ago
You should put the baseboards on first and then install the carpet..
magic0906
Original Author
11 years ago
Thank you Deborah.

About baseboards. I have looked at baseboards at the Lowe's, Home Depot, and Menard's building supply stores but I haven't chosen one yet and I get overwhelmed with the variety of styles. My house is small 1600 sq. ft. so the rooms aren't very large. Is there a standard or recommended size of baseboard based on a room's size? I like the "taller" ones in the store but am thinking they may look funny in my small size rooms. Thoughts?

Thanks a lot.
eurekafog
11 years ago
Nice taller baseboards should frame the room first, prime, caulk and base coat, as above, before you install carpet. Many builders do not install flush to the floor, compensating for height of carpet. But mind the gap that some builders forget where the suspended baseboard becomes a crumb catcher or the bottom of baseboard is visible if next carpet has thinner pad or pile. Look at the new "smart strands". Very soft, stain resistant and wear resistant. But not cheap.