How to Install Carpet

Installing wall to wall carpeting isn't a job that everyone wants to take on, but with some hard work and planning along with some specialized tools (that you can rent), it is certainly possible. An added bonus is by installing it yourself, you can afford to buy a better grade of carpet. Here are some tips for do-it-yourself carpet installation.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Seam iron
• Seam tape
• Work gloves
• Seam cutter
• Power stretcher
• Knee kicker
• Utility knife or carpet knife
• Tackless strips
• Stair tool
• Chalk line
• Stapler
• Safety glasses
• Measuring tape
• Hammer

1. Collect the following: tackless strips, stapler, hammer, utility knife or carpet knife, chalk line, measuring tape, knee kicker, power stretcher, seam cutter, wall trimmer, stair tool, seam tape, seam iron, work gloves and safety glasses.

2. Prepare the room by making sure the floor is clean and clear of anything that might create a lump in your new carpeting (old staples, etc). It's also a good idea to take off the doors so it will be easier to move the carpet into the room.

3. Install tackless strips around the perimeter of the room (except in front of doorways) 1/2 inch from the wall--be sure the strips meet at the corners and the tacks are pointing towards the wall.

4. Install your carpet underlay in strips and staple it in place. Butt the edges of the underlay together (don't overlap them). Trim away the excess underpad along the inside edge of the tackless strips, ensuring the tacks are exposed.

5. Measure your room at its longest point and add at least 4 inches to that measurement.

6. Layout your carpet (outside or on a garage floor) where you have room to work, and mark the back of the carpet on both edges with your room measurement.

7. Use a chalk line to join the two marks and then with a utility or carpet knife cut the carpet to length (cut from the backside).

8. Bring the carpet into the room, roll it out and "dry fit" it.

9. If your room is wide enough to need another piece of carpet, follow the same process, measure, layout, mark and trim, then bring the carpet into the room and place so it overlaps the existing piece by about 2 inches. Be sure the grain of the carpet is running the same way.

10. Use a seam cutter to cut through both pieces of carpet (at the same time)--this will ensure you have edges that line.

11. Cut a piece of seaming tape and center it under the two pieces of carpet, adhesive side up.

12. Heat the seam iron to temperature and run it slowly along the seam, allowing the adhesive to melt and join the edges. Put some weight onto the seam until the adhesive has dried.

13. Attach the carpet to the tackles strips by placing the knee kicker about 3 inches from the wall and driving your knee forcefully into the padded end. This will stretch the carpet over the tackless strip that will grab and hold it in place.

14. Trim along the wall with an edge trimmer (cuts through the carpet right at the wall).

15. Attach the carpet on the opposite side of the room using the power stretcher to fasten it to the tackless strips.

16. Trim away any excess; then, using the stair tool tuck the carpet under the exposed baseboard.

17. Trim the carpet at the doorway, install a door edge, cut vent openings and install the shoe molding on the baseboard.

Tips & Warnings

• Tackless strips come in a range of sizes; be sure your are using the correct one.
• When you're buying your carpet measure your room at its longest and widest points, multiply the two numbers together to get square feet and then divide by 9 to get square yards. Add 10 percent for a "fudge" factor (matching patterns, trimming and wastage) to figure the final quantity of carpet you'll need to buy.
• Tackless strips are sharp, so always wear gloves when handling them.

[terrbo]

on 7/13/2009 I have to take exception to Corkirelands comment. The "professional installs" I have had done, or have seen done for others, were usually shoddy at best. Better to DIY and save the money when the job will be done with more care have a better, or at least the same, end result. The mantra for professional installs seems to "get in, get paid, get out".

[blacklove42e]

on 4/15/2009 It's a good thing to do it yourself. We need to do more for our self and learn as much as we can. It's about life. We need to know how to farm our own food as well. This is the point. You should never stop learning how to do for your self.

[corkireland]

on 2/28/2009 Please don't try this at home. We professionals spend years honing our skills to produce quality installation. The money "saved" to afford a better grade of carpet is often wasted by a poor install. Save up more money and get a quality carpet and a quality install instead.

[dlrflooring]

on 3/10/2007 Great Artical, important question: Do you heat the tape directly "iron to glue on the tape?" Or does one heat the carpet over the tape?