How to Install & Repair Carpet
Carpeting a new area of your home, or replacing an old carpet, can completely change the feel of your house and can bring new life and vitality to the atmosphere. Unfortunately, professional carpet installation can be far out of the price range for many people. With some determination and the right techniques, you may be able to install your new carpet yourself. The same goes for repairing an existing carpet. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Tape measure
- Carpet patch kit
- Carpet glue
- Spare carpet
- Water
- Carpet
- Utility knife
- Double-sided carpet tape
Instructions
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Repair
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1
Purchase a carpet patch kit from a flooring distributor or Internet retailer. These kits include a carpet cutter and patching discs.
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2
Make an imprint on your damaged area and your spare fabric with the carpet cutter (before you attach the blades) from the installation kit. This will push aside the carpet fibers and make cutting easier.
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3
Screw the blades onto the carpet cutter. Push the tool down on the imprint you made until you hear a popping noise; this is the cutter's screw piercing through the backing of the carpet.
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4
Turn the cutter clockwise two or three times around your imprinted areas to cut out the damaged area.
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5
Remove the protective covering from one of the adhesive discs and lightly splash it with cool water; this will neutralize the adhesive while you slide the disc into place. Open the slit in the disc and slide the edge between the carpet and the padding beneath.
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6
Push the disc the rest of the way under the cut-away area; the disc will be slightly larger than the patch area. Press down on the carpet surrounding the disc to adhere the disc in place.
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7
Spread a thin line of carpet glue around the edges of the disc and push the patch into place. Make any adjustments quickly, as the glue will set fully in 15 minutes and you will not be able to make any more changes.
Installation
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Begin in one corner of the room and lay strips of double-sided carpet tape around the perimeter. As you go, measure every two feet and apply an "X" to the floor in double-sided tape, with each piece of tape measuring six inches. When applying the tape, remove the protective covering from one side so that it will stick to the floor, but leave the protection on the other side until you are ready to lay the carpet.
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9
Roll the carpet into the room; it will not stick to the tape yet, since you left the top protective paper on. Center the carpet in the room, so that any excess carpet runs equally up each wall.
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10
Trim the excess off of the carpet with a sharp utility knife. Be sure to cut "V" shapes for corners and to cut out any areas needed for heating vents or other protrusions.
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11
Fold the carpet in half, being sure not to slide its position. Starting on one side of the room, work from the center outward, removing the top paper of the tape and smoothing the carpeting into place. Work completely across one half of the carpet, and then fold up the other half and repeat.
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12
Walk around the perimeter of the room to apply pressure, making sure the carpet is sticking securely to the tape and that there are no areas sticking up.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Make sure the flooring beneath the carpeting is clean and dry before beginning to install. You should also remove any doors that may swing into the newly carpeted areas so that you have proper room to install.
If you are installing a carpet in an outdoor area, tape may not be able to hold up to all weather conditions. Consider instead using an industrial-grade adhesive; consult hardware or carpeting stores for this adhesive.
If you don't have any spare carpet pieces lying around from which you can cut your patch, cut an area out of the back of a closet or from under a piece of furniture that is rarely moved.
