Stop tucking carpet under baseboards without checking the gap first

I keep seeing guys on installs here in Columbus run carpet right up to baseboard without checking the gap underneath, and it buckles within a month because there is nowhere for the material to go when humidity swings. Grab a flat bar and feel the gap first, if it is under a quarter inch you need to trim and tuck tighter or the seam will pop. Anyone got a better way to check gap depth fast on a full room without crawling the whole perimeter?

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charles_coleman3h ago

Been doing this 12 years now and the trick that saved me was a cheap set of feeler gauges from Harbor Freight, like 8 bucks. I tape them together at a quarter inch and just slide that along the wall as I walk the room. If it goes under, you are good. If it stops, that spot needs work. Whole room takes me maybe 3 minutes instead of crawling on my knees. I also keep a short piece of 1/4 inch dowel rod in my pouch for quick checks when I do not feel like digging out the gauges. The dowel is nice too because if it fits snug you know you are right at the limit and should tuck a little looser there.

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