I am installing new base moulding in a new remodel. Do I leave a gap above the floor? If so how much?
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I leave the thickness of my finger which ends up being 1/2".
The carpet layer just thanked us for doing this. It made his job very easy for him to cut and tuck the edges under the base mould. He wishes everyone would do that. But they don't. He said he rarely sees it.
1/2" might be a tad high for a tight berber. I was seeing gaps below the mouldings on a job that had the berber. I was quite disappointed. I don't know if the carpet guys cut the berber short or maybe I had the mould up 3/4" which would be too high. Or, maybe they had the tackstrip nailed too far back from the wall.
Anyways, 3/8" would probably always work.
Bob's next test date: 12/10/07
Jim...better to go with the 3/8". It was a huge stink when I went with 1/2". they had to lay strips all along the whole perimiter so the carpet would end up tight. Fortuntely I'd gone with the 1/2" based on the salesmans advice, so they had to eat the cost. The salesman actualy got fired, but i'm pretty sure there was other stuff going on as well.
a really think carpet may warrant higher.
View Image View Image
"a really think carpet may warrant higher."
a thick pad under carpet might cause you to want to go higher too.
The pad dosen't get tucked under the base!
The thickness of your pad has nothing to do with it!
Only your carpet gets tucked under the base, the pad stops a inch or two in front of the base.
You all are thinking to hard on this.
Never knew the pad stops short of the edge. Thank you for enlightening me.
My carpet installer installs a tackless strip around the room just approx. 1/2 or so in front of the base. Then lays the pad inside the tackless, butts up to it.
Then streches carpet onto the tackless and trims and tucks un der the base.
Then drinks beer! Or was the beer before the tackless?? I forget
Of course it's all something you won't need to worry about if the base goes in after, except that you are still left to cut the door jambs. When I did my house I didn't trust the carpet guys to do that, plus they were delayed and I couldn't keep waiting for them, so the base went in first. I nearly flipped when the installer showed up and said it was too high, after I'd confirmed with the salesman several times. ( i've started to learn not to trust salesman.) With the 1/4" mahogany strips they tacked all around, you cant even tell now.
how's your week Jen? View Image View Image
This week's been pretty good so far.
I've been corrected about carpet pad so I've learned something new today. Always a good day when you've learned something new.
Yes...I suppose one has to have either laid carpet or torn it up to really know that.....or be corrected here at BT :) View Image View Image
Is the base going over sub floor? Without carpet?
I assume everybody installs base up off the floor if there is going to be carpet installed, don't think I ever saw different
Doug
Leaving a gap seems to be a regional thing. Here in central NJ, I've never seen a gap, either in new construction, or in remodeling 100 y.o. homes.
Every post so far assumes that your covering your floors wth carpet and with no shoe molding.
You didn't state what kind of floor covering, not to often do I see shoe on the base with carpet too. But some like it.
If you are using carpet, I generally keep the base up off the floor the thickness of normal colonial base, approx. 3/8"
Sorry I forgot 1 detail, this is in a room that will be carpeted. Thanks for all the responses.
If you can find out what type of carpet will be installed the ruggers will appreciate it. Not to mention you can span and high spots in the slab by holding it up off the slab.ML
You are safe with 3/8ths don't do 1/2". Use a shim butt to keep it off the floor they are 3/8ths. This is for carpet only installs.