Replies

1. 
   cameraman | Sep 15, 2003 04:26pm | #1

   With the advice of our carpet installers, we keep the base approx. 3/8 - 1/2 inch off the floor. This gives the carpet installer enough room to tuck the carpet under the base. Then if you want a shoe molding can be installed after the carpet, but now we rarely use a shoe anymore.

2. 
   jagwah | Sep 15, 2003 04:32pm | #2

   Welcome to BR ERV

   There's really no bad way, first or last. But what I have always done is install my base first using a spacer to hold the baseboard off the floor. The spacer should be a little less than the carpet and pad. This also helps by spaning irregularities in the slab. Prime and first coat before carpet installation to save time. They may beat it to death during installation but the first two steps will be done. Then tuck your masking between the carpet and baseboard using a putty knife and finish.

   Voila! A nice job done.

3. 
   PhillGiles | Sep 15, 2003 05:32pm | #3

   Echoeing JAGWAH, painting base once the carpet is in is a time-consuming pain. Life is just so much easier if the base is set down about a third of the pile, primed and painted, and then you tuck the carpet under the base with a stair-tool when you install (the plastic stair-tools produce a lot fewer scratches on the base BTW). From my observations, I've concluded that carpet tucked under the base seems to be much tighter and less likely to form those little waves (aka: folds) that require the installer to come back a year later and re-kick the carpet.

   .

   Phill Giles

   The Unionville Woodwright

   Unionville, Ontario

   
   

   ---

   Edited 9/15/2003 10:36:28 AM ET by Phill Giles

4. 
   briankeith | Sep 15, 2003 07:45pm | #4

   I'm just going to agree with everyone else.

   Baseboard first, but raise it that 3/8 to 1/2 above the floor.

   The gap gives the layer a nice gap to put the carpet edge under.

   One other thing is that if they lay the carpet first, the tack strip will be directly under the base and virtually impossible to replace carpet without removing all the base.

   The guys that lay our carpet also say that it is much easier on them because they don't have to be quite as careful about where they place the stretcher.

   And let me also echo the Welcome to Breaktime.

   Welcome...Welcome, Welcome

   View Image
5. 
   JDRHI | Sep 15, 2003 08:16pm | #5

   Lets keep it unanimus....baseboard prior to carpet installation....go with the spacers as well.

   J. D. Reynolds

   Home Improvements

   "DO IT RIGHT, DO IT ONCE"

1. 
   Shoeman | Sep 15, 2003 11:32pm | #6

   one more vote for base installed before carpet - space mine 3/8" off floor

1. 
   MisterT | Sep 16, 2003 03:28am | #7

   I put the carpet down first then the base,

   every thing gets screwd down with dry wall screws : base, carpet, shoe

   Cabinets, three tab shingles for siding

   blue tarps for roofing

   Mr T

   Do not try this at home!

   I am an Experienced Professional!

1. 
   Piffin | Sep 16, 2003 05:02am | #8

   Mr T

   May I respectfully request that you get out, OUT, OUT!!!!

   Here I was,

   reading along,

   blissfully enjoying the only thread in all of the Tauntonian Kingdom

   where everybody was in agreeement on something

   To the point it was sounding like a peaceful chant for the inner tipi

   and then you come along and ruin my day.

   Learn to put the baseboard down first with a gap for threads like thee rest of us by dangnubbit!

   Or

   Get Out!

   ;)

   Sheet rock screws indeed!

   Youse younguns

   Cain't teach you nuthin'

   Mutter

   mutter

   Spit and sputter...

   Buy you books and buy you books,

   and all you do'

   is lick the dirty pictures!

   What am I gonna do?.

   Excellence is its own reward!

1. 
   MisterT | Sep 16, 2003 01:09pm | #9

   Just doin my part to liven this place up and get you over 10KMr T

   Do not try this at home!

   I am an Experienced Professional!

2. 
   Piffin | Sep 16, 2003 04:25pm | #11

   Thirteen to go as of this post. Bells and whistles might go off tonight.

   Have a great day..

   Excellence is its own reward!

2. 
   Shoeman | Sep 16, 2003 03:22pm | #10

   good to hear you're doing things by the book

   hope you are going with the 19.2" on center screw schedule on that base