How to install carpet

Installing carpet is a job that you can do yourself, using some specialized tools, which are available at most tool rental outlets, and hard work.

Level of difficulty: Moderate - Hard

You will need:

• Stapler
• Hammer
• Utility knife
• Measuring tape
• Seam tape
• Duct tape
• Tack strips (not always necessary)
• Work gloves (optional)
• Safety glasses (optional)
• Knee pads (optional)

Rental tools:

• Knee kicker
• Seam cutter
• Seaming iron
• Strip cutter
• Seam roller
• Stair tool

Steps:

1. You must first prep the area where you will be installing the carpet. Start by removing the entrance door, this will help you get the old carpet out and the new carpet in. Use a utility knife to begin cutting the old carpet into strips about 18 to 24 inches wide. Begin at one end of the carpet and start to pull the carpet off of the tack strips and roll it up in sections. Some people do not replace the pad underneath the carpet, but it is best to pull it up as well. Most of the time if the carpet is worn out, so will the pad underneath it. You can use the existing tack strips, if they are in good condition. Make sure there are no staples, which were used for the pad, still stuck in the floor. Sweep or vacuum the floor to remove any dust or dirt.

2. Put the pad down in strips, but do not lay it on top of the tack strip. Then staple the pad to the floor. The pad strips should be put down up against each other. You can use duct tape to tape the strips together, if necessary. Do not overlap the pad pieces.

3. You will need to measure the room at its longest point and add 4 inches to that measurement. Using that measurement, mark the back of your carpet on both edges and join the two marks with a chalk line. Then fold the carpet over on itself, and with a straight edge and utility knife, cut through the carpet on the backside. Be sure to place a piece of scrap board underneath where you are cutting to protect the underlying carpet.

4. When you need to add another piece of carpet, cut that piece large enough so it will overlap the first piece of carpet by 4 inches. Using a utility knife or a rented seam cutter, you will need to cut the overlapped carpet so it fits exactly with the first piece of carpet. After cutting the overlapped carpet, you will need to place seaming tape on the floor underneath where the two pieces of carpet join. The adhesive side of the tape should be up. Activate the adhesive using a seaming iron. The iron goes on the tape, not the carpet. Then put the carpet edges together and seal the seam with a seam roller.

5. A knee kicker is a tool about 18 in long with "teeth" that will grip the carpet on one end, and a padded "butt" on the other end. Place the toothed end about 3 inches from the wall and forcefully drive your knee into the padded end. This will stretch the carpet over the tack strip, and the tacks will hold it firmly in place. Work your way around the room doing this and trim the carpet near the wall using a utility knife.

6. Tuck the carpet down into the gap between the tack strips and the wall, using a stair tool. Trim the carpet at the doorway so the edge is centered under the closed door and install a door edge strip.