How do I install new baseboards when the old ones sit on the hardwood flooring & the carpet butts up to it?

Question

Our house was built in the 50's and the basboards are horrible. I thought that like most houses, you take the old ones off and replace with new ones. Sadly mistaken. The carpet butts up against the baseboards. and the BB are sitting on the hardwood flooring under the carpet. If I put the new BB in the same spot there is a huge gap to were the carpet and new BB meet. Should I get another piece of trim and build up a little and then put the new BB on top of that??? I truely need someones help that has dealt with this.

Answer 1

NO, you can do this!!! How carpet is installed there a little strip of wood under the edges with little nails/spikes to hold the carpet and then it is tucked behind the strip. Remove the baseboards and then loosen your carpet. You may need to move the wood strips or they may be OK in their place. Go to an Industrial Rental and tell them you want to Rent a Carpet "Kicker" and the tool to tuck the carpet behind the wood strip. They show you how it work. Over the years the carpet should be able to stretch into place and you can install the new baseboards. DO ONE side at a time so the other sides hold the carpet.

Answer 2

Besides changing the baseboard that you have chosen to one that will cover the gap, I can see two alternatives. Replace the carpet, which would be costly and is probably the solution that you wish to stay away from. Or you could add to the base board that you have already chosen. This is simple. Just obtain perhaps a one inch piece of trim molding, or anything else that could sit on the floor in front of your new baseboard that looks decent, and attach it to the new baseboard. You are in effect, doubling up the baseboard to create a new baseboard pattern of your own. I suggest the small one inch thick piece of BB because it will be relatively inexpensive to obtain. I use this method all the time with crown molding to create a look that the homeowner is happy with. It takes a little work to figure out the initial design, but after that, it's a snap. Good luck!

Answer 3

There will always be a gap between the carpet and the new baseboards unless the new baseboards are exactly the thickness of the old ones.

You can fill the gap with flat molding. How would that look? You can get new carpets - got bucks?

Well, my preference would be to ditch the carpets, since you have hardwood floors. I hate carpets. I like hardwood floors.

Answer 4

You REALLY need to get the old carpet up and put down a stable underlay before installing a hardwood floor. You will be setting yourself up to replace the new *buckled* hardwood floor in a year or less. You wouldn't lay new carpet over old carpet would you?