How to Install Carpet a Step by Step Guide

You may be unsure how to get professional looking wall to wall carpeting without having someone to install it for you. But did you know that it is possible to replace or install carpet on your own, using only a few easy to use tools? It's true.

A subfloor does not need to be complicated with carpeting. Unlike other types of flooring, the two main requirements of carpeting subfloor is that it prevents moisture from getting through underneath, and it allows you to staple the underlay to it when you are installing that part of the carpeting. Underlay does more than provide cushioning, it actually extends the length of your carpet.

The tools that you need are not expensive or hard to find but they are necessary to properly install your wall to wall carpeting. They are carpet cutters, edge trimmers, seam cutters, seam tape, seam irons, chalk line, stair tools and a seam iron. You will need tackless strips to attach the carpet to the floor and a knee kicker and power stretcher in order to work the carpet onto the tackless strips.

Clean your subfloor. You may not realize how important this is, but if you have ever stepped on something sharp under carpeting you know how critical this is. Things will work their way up through your carpet and can make walking uncomfortable. Then, put down your tackless strips along the walls, avoiding doorways. Put the strips about an inch and a half from the walls and make sure the strips join together at the corners. The tacks should face the wall.

Laying underlay is next and this should be done in strips. Make sure that the edges butt up against one another, but do not bunch them or allow them to wad up. You don't want any lumps underneath the carpeting. Do not cover the tackless strips with the underlay or you will be unable to attach the carpeting to them. Staple the underlay to the subfloor with a staple gun.

Next, you will need to know how long a piece of carpeting to cut, so measure the room at the longest point and add four inches. Mark the back of the carpet using the chalk line, and cut through the backing with a carpet knife. You should make a dry run, and check the fit of the piece into the room before cutting any additional pieces.

If you do not know why you may be cutting a piece, consider that a room is often wider than a piece of carpeting, so you may need to cut a second piece to join to the first along one side. If the fit is good, cut a second piece of carpet and then prepare to join them together at a seam. Overlap the pieces by about two inches, then cut through both layers with your seam cutter. This makes sure that the seam matches perfectly and it is not a problem to join them together. Seam tape is then attached to the back of the carpet so that the tape lies under the backing of the carpet and the adhesive side is up. Because the adhesive is heat activated, running a seam iron slowly along the join will make sure that the adhesive is activated and the seam is created.

Tackless strips come into use at this point. Remember, you have placed them around the room with the tacks facing the walls. Use the knee kicker tool, placed about three inches from the wall. Pressing your knee firmly against the padded section of the knee kicker will press the carpet into the strip. You use the edge trimmer at this point to cut the carpet right at the wall.

Finally, use your power stretcher to pull the carpet over the strips on the far side of the room. Use the knee kicker again and press the carpet onto the strip, then cut at the wall in order to achieve a custom fit.

The edge trimmer is designed to cut the carpet right at the wall. The professional finish will carry through as you leave openings for vents and place doorway strips across doorways to finish those edges. A stair tool is excellent for tucking any carpeting under baseboards so that you can have a seamless and professional finish.

After you install carpet and completed all the steps you are left with a professionally fitted and installed carpet. Carpet adds warmth and class to the room and you can feel proud knowing you have completed this installation yourself.