Which should come first, painting skirting boards or changing carpet?

Nebbit

We are planning some long overdue improvements to our house, ie. decorating and changing floor coverings. I had assumed it was better to paint skirting boards first, and then rip up the carpet, but then I wondered if the skirting boards might be chipped by workers laying carpet or board flooring. I would be glad of some advice about the best sequence of work, because I don't think we want to do both jobs at once.

Grumpy_chap

Remove old carpet.

Paint.

New carpet

bjorn_toby_wilde

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82118051#Comment_82118051

This.

The fitters shouldn’t damage the skirting, but they might. I’ve had it happen.

There’s less chance of damage if you give the paint time to harden (cure) before they arrive. Oil based paint takes about a week to cure. Water based a bit longer, maybe two to three weeks (read the manufacturer’s blurb)….and oil based is a tad tougher.

subjecttocontract

I tend to cut the old carpet about 6 inches from the skirting all around the room. Then paint the skirting, then take up the rest of the old carpet a day before the new one is to be fitted.

sammyjammy

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82118070#Comment_82118070

Great tip!

Jemma01

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82118070#Comment_82118070

this is what I would do, let the flooring folks remove the old and bring the new in. I'll just cut the part out of my way, and time the flooring folks to come when it's dry

Nebbit

good advice, thanks

Albermarle

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82118114#Comment_82118114

If you get a small bit of chipping paint from the carpet fitters, it should be relatively simple to touch it up.

Gonk1967

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82118070#Comment_82118070

This is what we did when refurbishing my father-in-Laws flat.

Slinky

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82118070#Comment_82118070

We do this too. That strip of carpet stops you ripping your hands to bits catching the carpet gripper.

Lorian

If you need to paint the walls and ceiling do that first leaving the mess on the old carpet, watching not to tramp it in to other rooms till dry.

An MSE tip if you cut the carpet into rolls and take it to the tip it will save you disposal costs from the company laying the new covering.

You get through Stanley knife blades quickly cutting up old carpets.