Baseboards & trim or carpet first?

Question

I'm curious. I've seen this done both ways, but when I built my first house, I put the baseboards and trim in first, and then the carpet installers came in afterwards. However, I've also seen it done where the carpet was put in first and then the baseboards and trim. Personally, I think it looks better with the baseboards and trim in first, especially upon the second time carpet is installed (because the installers don't pull the trim and get in close when they pull old carpet and put in new).

So I'm just wondering what the standard is? What the preferable way to do it is.

Do you put in carpet first or do you put in the trim and baseboards first?

PS. By Trim, I mean, the plinth.

Bill · Accepted Answer

Trim first.  Good luck removing carpet from tack stripes when the trim holds it down.

longshot · Answer

I always hold the trim up 1/2" so the carpet can be tucked under, tack strips are held off the wall anyway.

HerHusband · Answer

Trim first, spaced 1/2" off the floor, and space the tack strips 1/2" out from there. This gives the carpet installer a place to "tuck" the edges of the carpet for a nice clean edge.

Also, you'll probably end up replacing the carpet at some point too, and the trim will already be in place. Might as well build it that way from the start.

Anthony

marson · Answer

the only exception is glue down carpet (usually commercialsituations).  base goes after carpet.

Baseboards & trim or carpet first?

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