Most contractors prefer to install the baseboards first. However, it can be done the other way around, and there are arguments to be made for both choices. Installation is simpler for whoever installs first.
You do not NEED it for carpet. I installed carpet all the time in mobile homes without trims. Alot of older construction as well never used baseboards in carpeted areas. It's only more of a modern look to have everything flow through the whole house. If you did want to do it, it is fine to add after.
Base Board First!
It's definitely an easy thing for installers if carpet first. However, that is not the best for you. You will be replacing the old carpet someday. Now you already have the baseboard installed on the top of the carpet, you will have to remove them to pull up the old carpet.
Probably a bead of silicone or latex based sealant, like Phenoseal, between the floor and the molding. This can be a tough area to seal as the wood floor underneath the carpet shrinks and expands. You could also use that spray foam but that would require the temporary removal of the shoe molding at the floor.
Best practice is that something at the lower edge of the wall should come down on top of the finished floor surface. If you install baseboard alone then that should be installed last over the finished floor.
Ideally, you want to address a gap between your baseboard and flooring before your flooring is installed.
If you're installing the baseboards pre-carpet installation, we recommend leaving a 1-inch gap between the wall and the floor for the pad and carpet. This is more than enough space for the carpet installation without leaving too much room for dirt and debris.
Push the Edges Under the Baseboard
Use a wide-blade carpet chisel and force the edge of the carpeting into the space beneath the baseboard molding. Be careful not to scratch or dent the molding.
T-bars inserted into a track are a common way to join hardwood and carpet. However, if you're joining together two floors of different heights, you might need to use a carpet reducer strip.
Base shoe or quarter round is the thin, narrow piece of trim that runs along the bottom of the floor and hides the gap between the wall and the floor.
Baseboards are typically installed prior to the flooring. For instance, baseboards should be installed first before laying carpeting. It allows for the edges to be tucked under and out of view. However, it's much easier and convenient for hardwood and laminate flooring to be laid first before installing the trim.
The standard procedure is to install carpet after the doors and trim are installed. If you were installing vinyl or tile, you would do the same, but hold off on any quarter round trim until you're done. The important consideration, particularly for pre-hung doors, is how high to install it above the subfloor.
Are Baseboards Necessary? Although baseboards add a visual benefit to the room, their purpose is more than aesthetic, and most would argue they are necessary. In some cases, the baseboard is used to protect drywall. For homes that use different types of materials for walls, the benefits of baseboards may be different.
To be super sure you have the right amount of space, you can measure the gap with your carpet's edge. Installing the baseboards first makes it much easier to stain and paint your baseboards because you don't have to worry about getting any stain or paint on the brand-new carpet.
You could opt to not have any baseboards at all. This is recommended if you are going for a very contemporary look with clean uninterrupted lines. Opting to not have any baseboards will keep your design simple and modern. The only downside is a loss of protection for your walls from brooms and vacuums.
Doing this, a homeowner is very likely to end up with a combination of three unsightly problems. Carpet lint can get picked up into the brush and painted onto the wall, leaving an ugly marred spot when it is pulled off. In addition, even a steady brush hand is likely to leave paint on the tips of the carpet fibers.
This helps preserve the original hardwood flooring while providing a softer surface for walking. Additionally, carpets provide additional insulation against noise, helping to reduce footstep echoes in your home. It also can be a great way to give the room an entirely new look without investing in new flooring.
T-Molding. T-Molding is a popular choice for transitions between wood and carpet. This type of molding has a flat top with a vertical section that fits between the two different flooring types. The T-shape helps bridge the gap and provides a clean, finished look.
Carpet underlayment is a layer of cushioning material that lies between your carpet and the subfloor. Not only does carpet underlay provide essential support and softness underfoot, but it also offers sound insulation, bacterial protection, and extends the life of your carpet.
Are baseboards installed before the carpet? Most carpet installers will install the baseboards before the carpet. This is why it's important to measure thickness and find the appropriate height gap. Even though you can install baseboards after carpet, it's a cleaner, faster process if you install them beforehand.
Gaps between the carpet and baseboard are mostly unsightly and give an air of incompleteness and imperfection. These gaps can ruin your home's aesthetic. You can fill the gap between the carpet and baseboard by following these steps: caulking the gap, installing a new baseboard, and using expanding foam.
Baseboards do not have to be removed to install carpet. In fact, many carpet installers choose to leave baseboards on during the carpet installation process. At the same time, you can also choose to install new baseboards before installing carpet.
A general rule of thumb for your baseboards is the 7 percent rule — they should equal 7 percent of the overall height of your room. So, if you have 8-foot ceilings, your baseboards will look best at around 7 inches high.
The process I use takes advantage of the fact that the installers like to tuck the carpeting under the door jambs and the baseboard, which gives the installers a bit of a “fudge factor.” If you leave a jamb 1/16 inch short on a wood floor, it sticks out like a sore thumb.
When is Caulking Between Floor and Baseboard Necessary. Caulking is required if there is a gap of at least one-eighth of an inch between the flooring and the baseboard. This helps to protect them from moisture and dust.