How to Stop Drafts Between a Carpet & Baseboards

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Things You'll Need

  • Needle-nose pliers

  • Expanding foam

  • Utility knife

  • Knee kicker

Limiting the drafts in your home can help increase your home's overall energy efficiency. One potential draft problem is between carpets and baseboards. Most carpets do not stretch all the way to the wall. There is a small gap between the wall and the carpet, covered by a baseboard. You may need to fill this space in to prevent air drafts into your home, which can cool or heat the home when you do not want this added airflow. A simple way to close this gap is to use expanding foam.

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Step 1

Pull up on your carpet with a pair of needle-nose pliers. Pull back the carpet from one wall, removing it from the tack strip.

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Step 2

Spray an expanding foam sealer beneath the base board. Be sure to not over-spray, as the expanding foam may spread into unwanted areas.

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Step 3

Allow the foam to expand and dry for a period of time. Refer to the instructions on the can to ensure that the foam cures properly.

Step 4

Cut back any foam that expands past the baseboard. Ensure that enough room exists to reinstall the carpet properly.

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Step 5

Use a knee kicker to reattach the carpet to the tack strips.

Step 6

Repeat Steps 3 through 5 to fill in the spaces around the entire room.

Warning

Do not use expanding foam that will eat away wood, as this will damage your baseboard.

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