diff --git a/CHANGELOG-v3.2.md b/CHANGELOG-v3.2.md
index 57b76a4d2f3..0ad23dd120e 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG-v3.2.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG-v3.2.md
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@
 - Added the `_special/sitepicker` template.
 - It’s now possible for plugins and modules to define custom actions on console controllers.
 - Added a testing framework for Craft and plugins, powered by Codeception. ([#3382](https://github.com/craftcms/cms/pull/3382), [#1485](https://github.com/craftcms/cms/issues/1485), [#944](https://github.com/craftcms/cms/issues/944))
+- Added `craft\base\ApplicationTrait::getInstalledSchemaVersion()`.
 - Added `craft\base\BlockElementInterface`.
 - Added `craft\base\Element::EVENT_AFTER_PROPAGATE`.
 - Added `craft\base\Element::EVENT_REGISTER_PREVIEW_TARGETS`.
diff --git a/CHANGELOG-v3.md b/CHANGELOG-v3.md
index aa9dbc5a4f0..a33cc25d2ab 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG-v3.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG-v3.md
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 ## Unreleased
 
 ### Added
+- Added `craft\base\ApplicationTrait::getInstalledSchemaVersion()`.
 - Added `craft\services\Matrix::duplicateBlocks()`.
 
 ### Changed
@@ -12,6 +13,7 @@
 - Fixed a bug where Edit Entry pages would show unnecessary page unload warnings in Chrome 75.
 - Fixed an error that could occur when editing entries on multi-site installs.
 - Fixed a bug where Matrix blocks weren’t getting duplicated for other sites when creating a new element. ([#4449](https://github.com/craftcms/cms/issues/4449))
+- Fixed a bug where new installs could be missing most project config values.
 
 ## 3.2.0-RC1 - 2019-06-25
 
diff --git a/src/base/ApplicationTrait.php b/src/base/ApplicationTrait.php
index ba1c9b74b93..4042f16025d 100644
--- a/src/base/ApplicationTrait.php
+++ b/src/base/ApplicationTrait.php
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@
 use craft\services\Fields;
 use craft\services\Globals;
 use craft\services\Matrix;
+use craft\services\ProjectConfig;
 use craft\services\Sections;
 use craft\services\Security;
 use craft\services\Sites;
@@ -114,6 +115,7 @@
  * @property-read I18N $i18n The internationalization (i18n) component
  * @property-read Queue|QueueInterface $queue The job queue
  * @property-read Security $security The security component
+ * @property-read string $installedSchemaVersion The installed schema version
  * @property-read View $view The view component
  * @method AssetManager getAssetManager() Returns the asset manager component.
  * @method Connection getDb() Returns the database connection component.
@@ -259,6 +261,16 @@ public function setIsInstalled($value = true)
         $this->_isInstalled = $value;
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Returns the installed schema version.
+     *
+     * @return string
+     */
+    public function getInstalledSchemaVersion(): string
+    {
+        return $this->getProjectConfig()->get(ProjectConfig::CONFIG_SCHEMA_VERSION_KEY) ?? $this->schemaVersion;
+    }
+
     /**
      * Returns whether Craft has been fully initialized.
      *
diff --git a/src/db/SoftDeleteTrait.php b/src/db/SoftDeleteTrait.php
index c6516828302..67a97afedc1 100644
--- a/src/db/SoftDeleteTrait.php
+++ b/src/db/SoftDeleteTrait.php
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ public static function find()
         $query = parent::find();
 
         // todo: remove schema version condition after next beakpoint
-        $schemaVersion = Craft::$app->getProjectConfig()->get('system.schemaVersion');
+        $schemaVersion = Craft::$app->getInstalledSchemaVersion();
         if (version_compare($schemaVersion, '3.1.19', '>=')) {
             $query->where(['dateDeleted' => null]);
         }
diff --git a/src/elements/db/ElementQuery.php b/src/elements/db/ElementQuery.php
index 10995b4c1c7..7111939a724 100644
--- a/src/elements/db/ElementQuery.php
+++ b/src/elements/db/ElementQuery.php
@@ -1324,7 +1324,7 @@ public function prepare($builder)
         }
 
         // todo: remove schema version condition after next beakpoint
-        $schemaVersion = Craft::$app->getProjectConfig()->get('system.schemaVersion');
+        $schemaVersion = Craft::$app->getInstalledSchemaVersion();
         if (version_compare($schemaVersion, '3.1.0', '>=')) {
             if ($this->trashed === false) {
                 $this->subQuery->andWhere(['elements.dateDeleted' => null]);
@@ -2034,7 +2034,7 @@ private function _applyStructureParams(string $class)
                 ->from([Table::STRUCTURES])
                 ->where('[[id]] = [[structureelements.structureId]]');
             // todo: remove schema version condition after next beakpoint
-            $schemaVersion = Craft::$app->getProjectConfig()->get('system.schemaVersion');
+            $schemaVersion = Craft::$app->getInstalledSchemaVersion();
             if (version_compare($schemaVersion, '3.1.0', '>=')) {
                 $existsQuery->andWhere(['dateDeleted' => null]);
             }
@@ -2176,7 +2176,7 @@ private function _applyStructureParams(string $class)
     private function _applyRevisionParams()
     {
         // todo: remove schema version condition after next beakpoint
-        $schemaVersion = Craft::$app->getProjectConfig()->get('system.schemaVersion');
+        $schemaVersion = Craft::$app->getInstalledSchemaVersion();
         if (version_compare($schemaVersion, '3.2.6', '<')) {
             return;
         }
diff --git a/src/migrations/Install.php b/src/migrations/Install.php
index e2bc115f5ea..637b43a2e23 100644
--- a/src/migrations/Install.php
+++ b/src/migrations/Install.php
@@ -984,9 +984,6 @@ public function insertDefaultData()
         $generalConfig = Craft::$app->getConfig()->getGeneral();
         $projectConfig = Craft::$app->getProjectConfig();
 
-        // Set the schema version so element queries know it's safe to factor in draft/revision params
-        $projectConfig->set('system.schemaVersion', Craft::$app->schemaVersion);
-
         $applyExistingProjectConfig = false;
 
         if ($generalConfig->useProjectConfigFile) {
diff --git a/src/records/GlobalSet.php b/src/records/GlobalSet.php
index b799ad88b58..2660360b117 100644
--- a/src/records/GlobalSet.php
+++ b/src/records/GlobalSet.php
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ public static function find()
         $query = parent::find();
 
         // todo: remove schema version condition after next beakpoint
-        $schemaVersion = Craft::$app->getProjectConfig()->get('system.schemaVersion');
+        $schemaVersion = Craft::$app->getInstalledSchemaVersion();
         if (version_compare($schemaVersion, '3.1.19', '>=')) {
             $query
                 ->where(['exists', (new Query())
diff --git a/src/records/User.php b/src/records/User.php
index 3c702369b10..a6b7cdc24e6 100644
--- a/src/records/User.php
+++ b/src/records/User.php
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ public static function find()
             ->innerJoinWith(['element element']);
 
         // todo: remove schema version condition after next beakpoint
-        $schemaVersion = Craft::$app->getProjectConfig()->get('system.schemaVersion');
+        $schemaVersion = Craft::$app->getInstalledSchemaVersion();
         if (version_compare($schemaVersion, '3.1.19', '>=')) {
             $query->where(['element.dateDeleted' => null]);
         }
diff --git a/src/services/Elements.php b/src/services/Elements.php
index 0cc15159d93..18b09ba1cfe 100644
--- a/src/services/Elements.php
+++ b/src/services/Elements.php
@@ -325,7 +325,7 @@ public function getElementByUri(string $uri, int $siteId = null, bool $enabledOn
             ]);
 
         // todo: remove schema version conditions after next beakpoint
-        $schemaVersion = Craft::$app->getProjectConfig()->get('system.schemaVersion');
+        $schemaVersion = Craft::$app->getInstalledSchemaVersion();
         if (version_compare($schemaVersion, '3.1.0', '>=')) {
             $query->andWhere(['elements.dateDeleted' => null]);
         }
diff --git a/src/services/Fields.php b/src/services/Fields.php
index 163daa8ebc7..75d5569a5ae 100644
--- a/src/services/Fields.php
+++ b/src/services/Fields.php
@@ -1610,7 +1610,7 @@ private function _createFieldQuery(): Query
             ->orderBy(['fields.name' => SORT_ASC, 'fields.handle' => SORT_ASC]);
 
         // todo: remove schema version condition after next beakpoint
-        $schemaVersion = Craft::$app->getProjectConfig()->get('system.schemaVersion');
+        $schemaVersion = Craft::$app->getInstalledSchemaVersion();
         if (version_compare($schemaVersion, '3.1.0', '>=')) {
             $query->addSelect(['fields.searchable']);
         }
@@ -1634,7 +1634,7 @@ private function _createLayoutQuery(): Query
             ->from([Table::FIELDLAYOUTS]);
 
         // todo: remove schema version condition after next beakpoint
-        $schemaVersion = Craft::$app->getProjectConfig()->get('system.schemaVersion');
+        $schemaVersion = Craft::$app->getInstalledSchemaVersion();
         if (version_compare($schemaVersion, '3.1.0', '>=')) {
             $query->where(['dateDeleted' => null]);
         }
diff --git a/src/services/Plugins.php b/src/services/Plugins.php
index 0c235254ba2..dcf722ce9a7 100644
--- a/src/services/Plugins.php
+++ b/src/services/Plugins.php
@@ -1239,7 +1239,7 @@ private function _createPluginQuery(): Query
             ->from([Table::PLUGINS]);
 
         // todo: remove schema version condition after next beakpoint
-        $schemaVersion = Craft::$app->getProjectConfig()->get('system.schemaVersion');
+        $schemaVersion = Craft::$app->getInstalledSchemaVersion();
         if (version_compare($schemaVersion, '3.1.19', '>=')) {
             $query->addSelect(['licensedEdition']);
         }
diff --git a/src/services/Sections.php b/src/services/Sections.php
index 91f9f7deb6f..5f018da0bed 100644
--- a/src/services/Sections.php
+++ b/src/services/Sections.php
@@ -1436,7 +1436,7 @@ private function _createSectionQuery(): Query
         // todo: remove schema version condition after next beakpoint
         $condition = null;
         $joinCondition = '[[structures.id]] = [[sections.structureId]]';
-        $schemaVersion = Craft::$app->getProjectConfig()->get('system.schemaVersion');
+        $schemaVersion = Craft::$app->getInstalledSchemaVersion();
         if (version_compare($schemaVersion, '3.1.19', '>=')) {
             $condition = ['sections.dateDeleted' => null];
             $joinCondition = [
@@ -1619,7 +1619,7 @@ private function _createEntryTypeQuery()
             ->from([Table::ENTRYTYPES]);
 
         // todo: remove schema version condition after next beakpoint
-        $schemaVersion = Craft::$app->getProjectConfig()->get('system.schemaVersion');
+        $schemaVersion = Craft::$app->getInstalledSchemaVersion();
         if (version_compare($schemaVersion, '3.1.19', '>=')) {
             $query->where(['dateDeleted' => null]);
         }
diff --git a/src/services/Volumes.php b/src/services/Volumes.php
index a0fcd4edc74..b44ea4c2bd8 100644
--- a/src/services/Volumes.php
+++ b/src/services/Volumes.php
@@ -723,7 +723,7 @@ private function _createVolumeQuery(): Query
             ->orderBy(['sortOrder' => SORT_ASC]);
 
         // todo: remove schema version condition after next beakpoint
-        $schemaVersion = Craft::$app->getProjectConfig()->get('system.schemaVersion');
+        $schemaVersion = Craft::$app->getInstalledSchemaVersion();
         if (version_compare($schemaVersion, '3.1.19', '>=')) {
             $query->where(['dateDeleted' => null]);
         }