How to Install a Carpet

A carpet is a great and simplest option for floor coverings. It is available in a variety of designs and colors. You must have always relied on a professional to install a carpet. You may think that it is not your cup of tea, and it is difficult and needs actual getting down on your knees. But it is not a Herculean task. All that you need is to buy some simple tools that are easily available in the market or you can even rent them.

Following are the equipment necessary to install a carpet:

• Carpet
• Carpet Padding (underlay)
• Tack Strips
• Knee Kicker
• Hammer
• Utility Knife
• Stapler
• Seam Iron
• Seam Tape or Adhesive
• Gloves for your safety

You need to plan ahead before installing a carpet. Measure the area which you wish to carpet. Take these measurements with you when you go to buy your carpet. Now that you have the equipment and material ready, let's look at the step-by-step procedure of installing the carpet.

How to Install a Carpet

1. Your first job is to remove the old carpet and also the underlay. Do not think of re-using the underlay as it will be equally worn out like the carpet. Also remove the old tack strips. Now, clean the area that you wish to carpet. Vacuum it to make it devoid of any debris or dust. Try and remove all the movable objects from the room.
2. Place the tack strips around the room, leaving 1/5 inch space between the strips and walls. Make sure that the pins and nails of the tack strips face towards the wall. Do not place tack strips in the doorways. In case there are any immovable objects, place the tack strips in front of them.
3. Place carpet padding (underlay) in strips. Do not overlap the underlay. Also, do not place it on the tack strips. Fasten the underlay with staples. Cut out or tape the seams. Make use of glue to stick the underlay to the floor.
4. Before laying your carpet, mark the actual measurements of your room on the rear side of the carpet and cut it. Now place the carpet in the room and fix it to the tack strips with the help of the knee kicker. Use the power stretcher to stretch the carpet to its full length. Push the trimmed carpet into the open space between the wall and the tack strips. Repeat this at for all the walls in the room. Cut any extra piece of carpet with the utility knife.
5. Once you finish installing the carpet, you have to give some finishing touches to make it perfect. Cut the lose ends to avoid unraveling. Door edge strips should be used at the door ways.

If your room is very wide, you will have to repeat the procedure to install carpet in that area. Insure that there is uniformity between the two carpeted areas. Use seam tape or adhesive to stick the two carpets together. Roll the seam iron on it to fix the two pieces. You will also have to cut the seams at the place where the two carpets match. Now, you have perfectly installed your carpet!

In case you wish to install a carpet on the stairs, there are two methods possible; waterfall method and cap and band method. The basic procedure to install the carpet is the same. In case of cap and band method, you need to cut the carpet for every single step individually. The article - How to Install Carpet on Stairs, - explains the process of carpeting your stairs in detail.

When you have finally finished, you will realize that it is not difficult to install a carpet. Now you are sure that the next time you will not need professional help. You just need patience, time and the right technique!