Preparation before Installing Your New Carpet

Preparation before Installing Your New Carpet

New flooring often occupies a top slot on the home make-over lists, and if you aren't comfortable installing new carpet on your own, you can still save a considerable amount by preparing the area before the carpet installer arrives.

Removal

Carefully pull up your old carpet and padding. Be sure to remove all staples, nails and tacking strips that had been used previously.

Remove any door that shares wall space with the room to be carpeted, such as closet doors or bedroom doors. The edge of the carpeting being laid will lie in the doorway itself, and a door that even partially hangs into that area can hamper proper installation of the carpeting you purchased.

Remove heating and air conditioning vent covers.

If you have any pictures hanging on the wall, remove those as well for safety.

Take down any drapes, curtains or blinds on your windows. Shorter ones probably won't interfere, but it's easier to return them to their places than it is to replace them, should they get damaged.

Inspect

Inspect the material on which the old carpeting and padding rested. Are their water stains or mold patterns that could indicate a problem with the sub-flooring? If so, solve the underlying problem satisfactorily before laying any new flooring or the problem will probably repeat itself.

If your house has a basement or a crawl space, use a strong flashlight and carefully inspect the underside of the sub-flooring for indications of problems.

Repair

Even if your carpet installation must be delayed, always resolve any problems that you found and repair damaged sub-flooring. Any problem that is left unsolved can expand and cause an early demise of the investment you're making in your home.

Sand uneven or rough spots in the grain and around the edges. The padding can snag on splinters and in cracks which grow worse over time and compromise the integrity of the protection your padding gives to the carpeting itself.

Fill in all prior holes and smaller cracks with wood putty and sand them evenly.

Clean

Ensure that any dirt, dead insects and miscellaneous debris are cleaned away and the sub-flooring is washed. Allow plenty of time for the sub-flooring to dry properly and inspect it again.

Take advantage of the vents' absence and carefully vacuum the top portions of the heating and air ducts with a hose attachment. Don't extend far into the system, because you could accidentally tear the tubing material. Clean the metal or plastic vent cover as well to remove any particles or rust that could instantly mar your new flooring.

Only when the sub-flooring is properly prepared are you ready to start the installation process.

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