Replies

1. 
   Guest_ | May 22, 1999 12:12am | #1

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   The reason for holding the base up, is not necessarily so that the carpet will go under it, but so the carpet won't hide it. If you use 1 3/8" base and put down carpet and pad 3/4" thick the remaining 5/8" base looks stupid. I don't worry about interior jambs, but I usually hold the stops up about 4".

1. 
   Guest_ | May 22, 1999 12:40am | #2

   *Bryan - I leave the jambs "up" as professional courtesy to the carpet guys, it makes their job easier. Whenever possible, I wait until the vinal is installed to install those doors. It is the same principle as nailing your double top plate directly over studs so no one hits your nails while drilling - it's no sweat to you, so do what you can for the next guy. Put your first stud 8" from the wall when framing end of bath tub, just stuff like that. When you get to the point where you are hiring subs yourself, they really appreciate stuff like this and will usually give you a cheaper price because of it. - yb

2. 
   Patrick | May 22, 1999 05:22am | #3

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   I usually keep the jamb and stop up 5/8" for a medium to deep pile.. As YB stated, it is a courtesy to the carpet layers,(you really don't want to annoy them!).If you are using a thinner carpet and or pad you probably want to reduce that 5/8" accordingly

3. 
   Guest_ | May 22, 1999 05:30am | #4

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   Bryan.

   I would install the doors with their jambs to the "sub-floor", stops have never seam to be a problem for carpet guys, they just cut them were they need to. As Mike points out. . .the question really is what size is your base? If it's over 4" put it right to the floor just don't install a shoe. One question you didn't ask is how much should you cut your doors, and that depends on the carpet you plan to install. Most of the time between and 1" & 1-1/4" works well.

   Joseph Fusco

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   Joseph Fusco

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1. 
   Guest_ | May 22, 1999 10:03am | #5

   *Just sign me to Joes post too

4. 
   John_Woody | Jun 09, 1999 04:42am | #6

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   Bryan,

   You can do yourself a favor by figuring out your carpet plus padding height first. Then notice how high your doors are above the bottom of the casing. If this amount doesn't equal the carpet height plus about 1/4 inch to spare, you should raise the entire door casing using shims before you nail them in. This will prevent having to cut all your doors off when they drag the carpet after they are installed. Learned this from Vic & Lora Fasolino who taught us how to build a Habitat house in 5 days.

5. 
   Guest_ | Jun 12, 1999 06:15am | #7

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   I really dislike cutting off door bottoms when I come back for the lockout, so, unless it's a super thin carpet, I've found 1 1/2" from subfloor to door bottom to be THE magic number. It's also been speced on some jobs for heating and cooling reasons (don't really know about this). Holding the base and door jambs up at least 3/8" also eliminates ever seeing a cut carpet edge. Just a little nicer to look at.

   Hang 'em high,BB

1. 
   Guest_ | Jun 12, 1999 06:18am | #8

   *Dont forget about leaving enough room for return air under doors if the house has central heat or cooling. Most of the lumberyards around here sell prehung units and they are already undercut about an inch for this purpose. If carpet has no padding then i usually set jambs right on the subfloor. Otherwise I raise 1/2" or so depending on header heights and if the rough opening is square and plumb.

6. 
   Bryan_Heid | Jun 12, 1999 06:21am | #9

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   Help!!! I am finishing an upstairs and I am to the point where it is time to install base molding and doors. I am planing to space the base molding 3/8 of an inch above the sub floor. What about the door jams? Do I also bring them up for the carpet installation?

   Many Thanks!!