subject: How To Install Carpet Yourself [print this page] Nowadays, getting professional help could be really expensive so we try to do different tasks on our own, especially when it comes to home improvement. One home improvement task we can try doing ourselves is installing carpets.
Below are lists of materials and tools you will be needing, and basic instructions about installing carpets.
Here are the materials you will need:
Carpet
Nails
Screws
Carpet pad
You will also be needing these tools:
Hammer
Tack strip cutter
Knee kicker
Trimmer
Power stretcher
Staple gun
Carpet seam tape
Carpet knife
Before starting the project you have to make sure all the materials and tools needed are complete. Follow these simple steps to properly install your carpet.
Measure the room - Before doing any purchasing and cutting it is always best to first do the measuring. You have to measure the length and the width of the room as this is important to determine the size of the carpet you will be needing.
Prepare the floor - Make sure that the floor is cleaned. Check for damages like squeaks. Have these repaired before installing your carpet. These will only damage your carpet when not properly fixed.
Install tack strips - Install the tack strips along wall edges. Do not install them in front of door openings. You have to maintain about 1/4" space between the walls or baseboard and the tack strips.
Install the carpet pad - A carpet pad is essential in protecting the carpet and giving cushion to the feet. Starting along one wall, roll out your carpet pad or carpet cushion. You have to make sure that you overlap the tack strips a few inches. The padding should remain smooth and straight. To prevent it from bunching you can tape along the seams. Staple the pad thoroughly every 2 feet or so. When the carpet pad is secured, use a carpet knife to cut the excess padding along the tack strips. Make sure that the pad do not overlap the tack strips.
Install the carpet - Same as installing the carpet pad, roll out the carpet along one wall making sure you leave an excess of about 3-4 inches that should overlap along the walls. When using more than one section of carpet, it is important that you create a seam. You can do this by placing seam tape under the seam. You can use a steam iron to melt the adhesive to fasten the ends of the carpet onto the seam tape. Hammer nails through the.
Tack the carpet down and trim - Before trimming the excess ends of the carpet, you have to tack the carpet into the space you left between the baseboard and the tack strips. Use the knee kicker to install the carpet to the tack strip. Use a power stretcher to stretch the carpet over the tack strips. Trim the carpet using a carpet trimmer to trim the excess carpet along the wall. Use a stair tool to tuck the carpet in the space between the tack strip and wall. Don't forget to install door edge strips along doorways to cover up the edge of the carpet.
When you have finished installing the carpet, it is important that you also vacuum the carpet.
Installing carpets could be really easy and fun if you follow certain steps. You have to use the right materials and the appropriate tools to achieve the result you are looking for.
