should base molding (trim) or carpet be installed first?

Question

I am in the process of finishing my basement. Im at the point to have carpet installed. The carpet folks are telling me the base trim should be installed prior to the carpet being installed - and should it about 1/2" off the floor. The trim guy is telling me the carpet should be installed first.

Who's right??

Answer 1

Install the rug first. You will have to have a tool to pull the carpet tight. Then you will have to fasten it down. You had to have gone to a cheap rug installer to get the answer you got. If you installed the trim first what kind of a mess would you be seeing When your tacked down the carpet. I would not use the carpet installers as you would not be satisfied with their suggestion as you would be with their installation. I may be a woman but I know this is the right answer for you.

Answer 2

Carpet first. Think about it.
You lay the carpet down and can run it to the edge of the wall and then trim it off. If the trim is already in place then you can't run the carpet all the way to the edge of the wall. He would then have to shove the carpet under the trim possibility damaging the carpet or the trim unless he just wants to run the carpet upto the trim. The trim going down last also serves to keep the carpeting in place more securely. Drag some big piece of furniture on the carpet and you'll understand this better. The carpet guy sounds like an idiot and you may want to consider using someone with a little more brains. Granted, this isn't rocket science but this guy doesn't sound like he can even find the launch pad. If you use him anyway, then make sure that you watch him put down the padding that you have chosen as well (and not something inferior or even nothing at all) and that he uses sufficient nail strips to secure the carpet. The carpet guy doesn't sound too competent which is often part and parcel to dishonest. I may be wrong though. The trim guy sounds like he knows what he's doing - you may do better listening to him.

Answer 3

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RE:
should base molding (trim) or carpet be installed first?
I am in the process of finishing my basement. Im at the point to have carpet installed. The carpet folks are telling me the base trim should be installed prior to the carpet being installed - and should it about 1/2" off the floor. The trim guy is telling me the carpet should be installed...

Answer 4

Carpet Molding

Answer 5

The base molding should be installed after walls are up and then the carpet should be installed and then the quarter round moulding should go down. This will give a clean and finished look to your rooms.

Answer 6

Carpet Moulding

Answer 7

the carpet guy is right base first but it should be installed tight to the subfloor it does not need a space put your tackless 1/2" off base install padding then the carpet gets tucked between tackless and base .

Answer 8

If you install it first, you have to leave a gap underneath for the carpter to slide under. I would have the carpet installed first. What the trim guy said is accurate. If you install the trim first and leave to big of a gap for the thickness of the carpet, there will be a space between the trim and the carpet.

Answer 9

either is correct. I prefer installing the trim after the carpet and not having to worry about the proper spacing.

Answer 10

I'd do the carpet first. The knee kickers that they use to install the carpet can slip and mangle your freshly installed trim. It's always better to cover up a gash in your wall with trim than replace a nice piece of trim that's been whacked.