Carpet Installation

Carpet Installation can either be hired out or done yourself. Most of the time when you purchase new carpet, carpet installation will be included in the price. If you are the do it yourself type then you can find the information you need at your local home improvement store. They often hold workshops on most home improvement, but the downside is the classes are often on schedules and not by appointment. However, you can still find the necessary steps online. I'm going to go through the basics here so you can judge how difficult a task it will be before you set out to do it yourself. Basically if you have the right tools and some patience your carpet installation will turn out how you expected.

Like I said, the store where you purchase your new carpet may offer carpeting installation with your purchase or you can contract professional installers. Your retailer may refer you to someone reputable but its best to do the foot work yourself so that you know you are getting the best carpet installation prices available. Installation is more expensive by the retailer over the professional but installation jobs done professionally in either case will assure you the job is done satisfactorily or you can get your money back as most carry warranties. Doing it yourself can cause problems if you don't know what you are doing. If hiring a professional then you want to make sure they are credible. Ask for references and see if they follow CRI standards and ask for a carpet installation estimate.

Let's take a look at the carpet installation tools you'll need to install carpet yourself. Most of this stuff is considered heavy equipment that wouldn't be standard tools you keep in your garage but can easily be rented, so I'll list those first. Having the right tools at the outset will make the job that much easier.

Power stretcher: This is something you will definitely want for all carpet installation jobs. It's a long pole with grips on either end that helps stretch the carpet so that it lays flat and doesn't buckle. A hand lever allows you to get the carpet taut enough for the knee kicker.

Knee Kicker: This is a handheld tool that is used to pull the sag out of a carpet and help secure it with the use of a knee pad that the installer uses to kick with his knee and pull the carpet taut.

Seam Cutter - A blade that has a guide to easily cut through your carpet.

Seaming iron - This helps you lay carpet that requires more than one piece for a room. It creates a seam with adhesive tape.

Wall Trimmer: Cuts carpet that needs to fit against a wall.

Strip cutter: Cuts the tackless strips that the carpet will fasten to at the wall.

Seam roller: This is a handheld tool that has a metal tooth roller which helps force adhesive tape into carpet backing at the seams.

Tackless Strips: These are the strips of wood that have little tacks pointing outwards at 45 degree angles for the carpet to attach to. These are nailed to the floor along walls.

Those tools are essential and need to be included in your carpet installation cost. Other tools that you need are seam tape, carpet glue, work gloves to protect your hands and fingers, safety goggles, knee pads (as being on knees for hours will leave them bruised), a pry bar, floor scraper, glue knife, your basic utility knife for simple carpet cutting and a particle mask to protect you from the dust kicked up by removing old carpet. You can see how the cost of carpet installation can add up when doing it yourself just by the supplies you need. This doesn't include the carpet padding installation either. That's another cost in itself. If you still insist on doing it yourself, I'll list the basics here and follow up with a video.

Basically you have to first pull out the old carpet. This is where your particle mask comes in handy. You may want to cut the carpet into strips as you remove it to reduce the amount of dust kicked up. Once you tear out the old carpet you want to inspect the flooring and remove any exposed nails.

When you're ready to install the new carpet, start setting the tackless strips around the perimeter 1/2 inch out from the wall with the tacks pointing away from the center of the room. Staple the padding to the floor. Make sure your carpet is several inches larger at each side than the room. You will cut the slack. Fold the carpet over on itself and cut where that line is on the underside of the carpet. That will be your edge. Once your carpet is in place, use the power stretcher to get the carpet taut and the knee kicker to secure it to the tackless strips.

Those are the basic steps. For detailed instructions on this type of carpet installation or more in-depth jobs like stair carpet installation visit your local home improvement store and see if they have any workshops available. Enjoy the video.