Carpet Source - Do You Remove Baseboards for Installation? (2024)

Here is a transcription, if you prefer to read instead:

"Questions about baseboard are asked all the time, sometimes four, five times a day. There’s a lot of questions around baseboards, like who removes them, who re-installs them, who paints them or touches them up, and with what type of flooring do you need to have them taken off to begin with? Well, pretty simple. Almost always, with carpeting, they don’t have to come off at all. Since they don’t have to come off, they don’t have to go back on either, which saves you a lot of effort. However, whenever installing carpeting, the baseboards do get a little bit of a nick, some nicks on them all around the perimeter during the installation of carpeting. The tools really don’t come in contact with the baseboards, it’s the backing of the carpet that’s pretty coarse, and during the installation, that’s when the baseboards get nicked up from the backing. So, you as the homeowner or building owner are responsible for finding someone to get those touched up.

Now, with cork flooring, bamboo flooring, laminate, hardwood, ceramic, and porcelain tile, as well as vinyl, it is recommended that the baseboards come off. With those floors, like we talked about, with cork, bamboo, laminate, and hardwood, there is an expansion joint left around the perimeter close to the wall, so that those floors can continue to expand and contract. The baseboards act as a cover for that expansion joint. So, when they come off, we will number them, we will put them back on for you, if that’s what you choose for us to do and then you’ll have to have someone come in, or find someone to come in and paint, and caulk those baseboards for you again. Ceramic tile, same thing, but in that case it is more optional. We recommend that they come off and go back on, but it’s completely up to you.

Again, with ceramic tile and porcelain flooring, there is no expansion and contraction. It is not really required, it just looks better when it is done that way, it’s a cleaner finish. Also, as far as door jambs are concerned, door jambs, we definitely need to have those undercut whenever installing any of the above floors again. Ceramic, porcelain, cork, bamboo, laminate, hardwood, and vinyl, typically it’s a really good idea to go ahead and undercut those door jambs with a special undercut saw, so that way that floor has a finished look around those door jambs.”

FAQs

Carpet Source - Do You Remove Baseboards for Installation? ›

We recommend that they come off and go back on, but it's completely up to you.

View Details ›

Do carpet installers remove baseboards? ›

No! 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.

Keep Reading ›

Can you pull up carpet without removing baseboards? ›

Carpet Removal Tip: Most carpet doesn't run underneath baseboards. But if you're one of the unlucky few with carpet under your trim, you'll have to remove them first.

Should I leave a gap between baseboard and floor? ›

Bottom: Gaps between the bottom of the baseboard and the floor happen because floor joists sag and foundations settle. If the gaps are wide enough, they allow air infiltration and seriously impact your home's energy consumption. 2 A bead of caulk blocks airflow.

Learn More ›

Is it OK not to have baseboards? ›

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.

Explore More ›

What goes first, baseboard or flooring? ›

For wall lovers, install baseboards first to shield them during hardwood floor installation—it saves walls and effort. But if precision's your jam, lay the floors before baseboards for that gapless, seamless look. Airflow isn't just hot air; leaving space under baseboards helps wood floors breathe and stay flat.

Find Out More ›

How much gap should I leave for carpet? ›

Most recommend installing beforehand and leaving an approximately 1-inch gap above the subfloor. This gap allows space for the carpet and carpet padding.

Read On ›

Does a room need to be empty to install carpet? ›

To lay a new carpet properly rooms should be cleared of all furniture. In some instances where the furniture can't be moved out of the room (for example a wardrobe or bed), a fitter will work around it as best as he/she can – again there may be a small charge.