skirting dilemma

[FishHead]

Hi Everyone,

I have just had floorboards installed in half the living areas. The other half will have carpet laid.

I am going to put in skirting boards throughout the whole area.

My Question is:

Would it be best to have the carpet laid before the skirting? (this is the plan). This way, the skirting on the carpet will be at the same level as the boards (about 10mm).

I can see the attraction of installing the skirts in the carpetted area before the carpet (future-proof etc) but this will mean that the skirting in the carpetted area will be noticeably lower and an (unattractive) 'fix' will have to be developed where the carpet meets the boards, to compensate for the drop.

What to do?

What would this 'fix' look like if I have the skirts done before the carpet? Which method is best?

Thanks in advance,

FishHead

[Tool-Horder]

The norm with carpets is to install skirtings first and fit carpet up to them. Carpet will most likely need replacing long berore skirtings do. To overcome the prob why not just rip down 10mm of the skirtings over the timber area.

[mic-d]

Install the skirt before the carpet. Rip the skirts over the boards to match the carpeted area only if there is a point where the skirt transitions from board to carpet. If they are in separate rooms with no link, I would not bother.

Cheers
Michael

[Honorary Bloke]

I have done it both ways and while installing the skirting over the carpet looks flash, just realise you will have to tear it all out and redo it if you replace the carpet.

[les88]

skirting first always.. you could rip a fillet piece as suggested to make the difference up. If it is the same room where they join make a header say 100 mm wide, the skirting height + 20 mm. Rout a couple of coves to make it a feature.
les

[FishHead]

This forum is great! Thanks everyone for your valuable input!

I am thinking that it would be easier to add 10mm to the skirts in the carpetted area (using pieces of leftover floorboards) than removing 10mm from the skirtings in the floorboard area. And I will install the skirting boards before the carpet gets laid.

Also, the 'smooth edge' (I think that's what it's called - the wooden strips with spikes that the carpet latches onto) is so close to the walls that they will have to be removed so that the (new, 10mm higher) skirting boards can be flush with the concrete.

What is the best way to remove these ie. without taking huge chunks of concrete with them?

Should I use liquid nails only to re-install them?

Also, how far should they be (when I re-install them) from the skirts, to allow the carpet to tuck under?

Thanks,

FishHead

[Honorary Bloke]

In my experience, they will just come up with a pry bar and a nail remover. Isn't that how they are now fastened? Installing new, I would not depend on liquid nails but fasten the same way they are now.

[Metal Head]

Hi FishHead,

Firstly welcome to the greatest WW site in Australia if not the World .

It always always better for members to answer questions if you put a picture(s) with your query as it will be easily to understand the dilemma you want answers for.

As the old saying goes:

"a picture is worth a thousand words"

Good luck
MH

[pawnhead]

This forum is great! Thanks everyone for your valuable input!

I am thinking that it would be easier to add 10mm to the skirts in the carpetted area (using pieces of leftover floorboards) than removing 10mm from the skirtings in the floorboard area.

I wouldn't worry about fixing anything to the skirting. If it's only 10mm, then just hold a packer under the skirting wherever you fix it, leaving a 10mm gap under the skirting. I've done this on many jobs, especially where the skirting is quite narrow and gets swallowed up by carpet thickness.

[Terry1]

We've also done the same thing as John mentioned on the last few houses that we have built.With the common use of large areas of tiles in our case (or floating floors in yours)in living areas etc you get a much better result in my opinion if you fix the skirts over the tiles (no straight joints,bit of room for movement etc)We then just use a packer to continue the same height until you come to a stoped end. (doorway etc)I noticed that you are in Perth,is that why you mentioned using liquid nails only to fix the skirts(solid brick walls)The carpet layers have said that it doesn't affect them at all.Regards Terry.

[FishHead]

Thanks again to everyone who has contributed to this thread. The assistance is much appreciated!

So the plan is:

Remove existing carpet grippers (as they are only 10mm from the wall - too close for 18mm wide skirting boards).

Install skirts over floorboards and into (yet to be) carpetted areas, using floorboard offcuts as 10mm spacers between concrete and skirts over these areas.

Attach carpet grippers 10mm away from skirts.

Install carpet.

Stand back and admire finished result!

Sorted.

Cheers!

FishHead