Expert: Dan Griffin - 11/6/2008

Question
The difference in height between my wood floor and carpeted area in about 1/2" Several years ago when the wood floor went in I saw that the transition of the baseboard to the carpeted area would not match. So I cut off the bottom 1/2" or so on all the baseboard on the wood floor(thus lowering it)so it would match at the transition point.

We are putting in new carpet and all new baseboard. I'd like to avoid cutting all that baseboard again. Aside from building up the floor underneath the carpeted area so it matches the wood floor, is there another way to get that transition to match?

Thanks!

Answer
Your  problem seems a bit unusual as carpet and pad is normally taller than a hard surface floor.  No matter, you still have an issue with which to deal.  Normally I hold the base off the floor for carpet and pad at least a 1/2", usually  3/4".  This allows the carpet man to tuck his carpet under the base which is normal and correct.  The typical lower hard floor uses a base shoe to make the difference.  

You don't say whether you are on a concrete slab or wood subfloor.   

Several choices:

1.  My first choice would be to base with the same material, holding the carpet area above the subfloor, and, in your case, fit or base shoe the hard floor.  YOu might be surprised that the fluff of the pad and carpet makes it a mute point.

2.  Cap the carpeted area with a 1/2" subloor to make them come out the same height.

3.  Use 3 1/4 base on the carpet and use casing of the same trim type on the higher floor using  2 1/4casing, add a shoe if necessary.

4.  Create a vertical detail (think fake column) at the floor change from floor to ceitling.  Let the base change height, the break will be absorbed by the vertical element.  Change pattern or finish if desired.