Do You Install Baseboard Before Or After Carpet?

A baseboard is a length of food or plastic installed to cover an area between the bottom of the wall and the floor.

The role of a baseboard is to hide the joint. It is also used as a protective tool, keeping the walls from getting damaged.

Whether they are made from wood or plastic, the roles of baseboards remain constant.

Therefore, they are used in nearly all types of buildings. Installing a baseboard is not that challenging.

However, there are several questions about when you are supposed to install the baseboard.

The issue of which needs to be installed first between a baseboard and a carpet is especially common.

When to install baseboard before or after carpet?

You can install your baseboard before or after installing the carpet (learn how to rip up the carpet if need be here).

However, there are pros and shortcomings for each.

Installing the baseboard before the carpet

You can install the baseboard before the carpet because you will not need to tamper with the baseboard while installing the carpet.

However, if you choose to install it before the carpet, you need to leave a gap between the floor and the trim.

Most baseboard installers leave a half an inch gap. However, the space is determined by the thickness of the carpet or padding to be installed.

This means that you must measure the carpet before installing the baseboard.

Leaving this space will allow you to slide your carpet under it during installation.

This is something you can do effortlessly and without any issues.

The benefit

. The primary benefit with this method is that you can easily remove or pull out your carpet when you need to change it or renovate it without having to loosen the baseboard.

. Another benefit is that installing a carpet after the baseboard is effortless because of the gap between the floor and the trim

. It also helps keep the carpet from getting damaged during the installation of the baseboard.

The downside

. The con is that if you do not leave space, your carpet will not go all the way to the wall. This means that you may have to remove or loosen the baseboard when installing the carpet.

. Scuffing could occur during carpet installation

Installing the carpet before the baseboard

You

can also install the carpet first before the baseboard (and learn how to install baseboard on rounded walls). Some people prefer this because the baseboard will not be scuffed during carpet installation.

This method also ensures that the carpet is tucked snugly underneath the baseboard.

It makes the installation look professional.

However, installing the baseboard after the carpet means that the baseboard may end up wedging the carpet between the track strips and the baseboard.

This could cause some damages to your carpet.

It will also make it very hard for you to remove or re-stretch the carpet when you want to change it without removing or loosening the baseboard.

Pros

. The installation will look professional as the carpet is neatly and snugly tucked under the baseboard

. The baseboard will not get scuffed when installing the carpet

Cons

.If you need to replace or re-stretch your carpet for any reason, you will have to remove or loosen the baseboard first

So do you install the baseboard, before or after the carpet?

Most carpet and baseboard installation companies prefer installing the baseboard before the carpet.

This is easier to do and it allows you to re-stretch or remove your carpet without tampering with the baseboard.

However, installing after the carpet also comes with its advantages.

Therefore, it would help to consider all these elements when deciding the best time to install your baseboard.

It would also be wise to contact a professional before deciding on the best method.