Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion The Water Cooler Baseboard and carpet question...

I will be getting carpet installed in my basement in the next 2 weeks (hopefully) to make a home just for my Axioms to arrive in 3 weeks (hopefully as well!).

My question is do I need base boards installed to properly keep the carpet in place on the edges? I could just ask my carpet installer, but I am too lazy to phone him right now...

Thanks!

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My question is do I need base boards installed to properly keep the carpet in place on the edges?

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No, they will either use a tack strip to hold the carpet down, or nowdays they are gluing the entire carpet to the floor.

No, base boards just give you that finished look, like you have upstairs. The carpet should have nailing strips around the edges and the installer will 'kick' it into place, which puts some tension on the carpet to hold it against the nails and remove ripples so it remains flat after it stretches a bit.

I placed my trim down before the carpet install, but left it off the concrete about the thickness of the trim by placing a piece underneath when nailing.

The carpet installers will normally use tack strips and stretch the carpet to those.

Some installers like to not have the baseboard down before the carpet, others (like Sirquack's) like it baseboard first.

In my basement, which is a never ending project, I have no baseboard, or any trim in so far. We are trying to finally get the bathroom done (almost ready for the plumber to come back and hook everything up), get some shelves up in a closet, and finish my home theater equipment rack (I need 3 pull out drawers yet). I did, however get my star ceiling done and put up tonight, so I am getting there. Anyway, you may need to check with your installer as to if they care if the baseboard is on or not anyway. And as Sirquack said, if you do it before the carpet, you must leave an even gap between the uncarpetted floor and the bottom of the baseboard to allow for the carpet to be "tucked" under it.

Ya, we are doing my basement in stages as well..

I will have no baseboards for at least a month after the carpet install if I don't have to. It will probably be freaking ugly along the edges...but I'll have a Home Theatre!

Number #1 priority is getting my theatre room done...who cares about trim anyway??

If it makes you feel any better... we've been without some crown moulding for about 2 years now. I made the mistake of suggesting I'd mill the entire basement myself. 3/4 of it is done... just have to get over to my uncle's to do another 30 or so linear feet... and I always think about finishing it in winter. His workshop isn't heated.

Maybe in spring.

Bren R.

>>Maybe in spring.>>


riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight

Yep, our carpet installers, said it is best to have the trip up as it gives a better finished look when they tuck the carpet and attach it to the tack board. If they put the carpet down first, it is much harder to install the trim after the fact evenly and level.