Kanga Carpet Installation

KangaBACK carpet is a layer of carpeting with a cushion attached. While this material sounds like it might be heavy and bulky to work with, it isn't. Kanga carpet installation combines setting the carpet pad and laying the carpet into one step. Do-it-yourselfers often use double-sided tape to hold the Kanga carpet in place; however, it's possible to install the carpet over a layer of carpet glue.

Things You'll Need

• Tape measure
• Pry bar
• Double-sided carpet tape
• Scissors
• Straight edge tool
• Utility knife
• Plastic bottle with long neck
• Seam sealer
• Putty knife
• Hammer
• Screwdriver
• Carpet edge strip

Instructions

1. Measure the room's dimensions. Allow extra to extend the carpet into doorways as well as into closets. Add 4 to 6 inches to the measurements.

2. Remove all the furniture from the room. Use a pry bar to remove the shoe molding or quarter round from the edge of the room. Save the molding so you can replace it later. Pull the hinge pins from the door hinges and remove the door. Put the pins back into the hinges so you don't misplace them.

3. Pull off the backing on side of double-sided carpet tape as you set it around the perimeter of the room. Cut the tape to fit with scissors. Cut 24-inch strips of tape and place it 48 inches apart in the middle of the room.

4. Position the Kanga carpet in the room. If you are piecing the carpet together, ensure the nap of the carpet is going the same direction on both pieces. Extend excess carpet up the walls as necessary.

5. Place the straight edge of one piece of KangaBACK along where you plan to join seams together. Arrange the edge of the second piece of carpet under the straight edge with at least a 2-inch overlap. Set a straight edge tool along the straight edge of the carpet. Draw a sharp utility knife along the straight edge to cut the overlap off. Butt the two edges together.

6. Pull back one side of the carpet seam. Mark a straight line on the floor where the two pieces of carpet butt together using the straight edge. Pull the other side of the carpet back as well.

7. Pull the backing off double-siding carpet tape as you lay a row along one side of the line. Put a second row of carpet tape along the other side of the line.

8. Put seam sealer in a plastic bottle with a long, thin neck. Run a bead of seam sealer between the two rows of carpet tape.

9. Pull the backing off the front side of the double row of tape. Butt the carpet edges together again as you set them in place on top of the tape and seam sealer. Keep carpet fibers away from the adhesive. Walk on the tape to help it to adhere to the KangaBACK.

10. Fold half of the carpet back on itself without disturbing the seam. Pull off the protective paper from the tape. Set the carpet in place working from the center of the room to the walls. Repeat for the other section of carpet.

11. Use a wide putty knife to create a crease in the carpet as you fold the excess around the perimeter of the room back on itself. Cut along the crease with a sharp utility knife. Set the carpet in place on the tape by walking on all it.

12. Replace the shoe molding. Finish doorways by attaching an edge strip with the screws or nails that accompanies it. Re-hang the doors.

References

• KangaBACK: Install Your Own Carpet?