How to Install Carpet
- 1). Collect the following: tackless strips, stapler, hammer, utility knife or carpet knife, chalk line, measuring tape, knee kicker, power stretcher, seam cutter, wall trimmer, stair tool, seam tape, seam iron, work gloves and safety glasses.
- 2). Prepare the room by making sure the floor is clean and clear of anything that might create a lump in your new carpeting (old staples, etc). It's also a good idea to take off the doors so it will be easier to move the carpet into the room.
- 3). Install tackless strips around the perimeter of the room (except in front of doorways) 1/2 inch from the wall--be sure the strips meet at the corners and the tacks are pointing towards the wall.
- 4). Install your carpet underlay in strips and staple it in place. Butt the edges of the underlay together (don't overlap them). Trim away the excess underpad along the inside edge of the tackless strips, ensuring the tacks are exposed.
- 5). Measure your room at its longest point and add at least 4 inches to that measurement.
- 6). Layout your carpet (outside or on a garage floor) where you have room to work, and mark the back of the carpet on both edges with your room measurement.
- 7). Use a chalk line to join the two marks and then with a utility or carpet knife cut the carpet to length (cut from the backside).
- 8). Bring the carpet into the room, roll it out and "dry fit" it.
- 9). If your room is wide enough to need another piece of carpet, follow the same process, measure, layout, mark and trim, then bring the carpet into the room and place so it overlaps the existing piece by about 2 inches. Be sure the grain of the carpet is running the same way.
- 10
Use a seam cutter to cut through both pieces of carpet (at the same time)--this will ensure you have edges that line. - 11
Cut a piece of seaming tape and center it under the two pieces of carpet, adhesive side up. - 12
Heat the seam iron to temperature and run it slowly along the seam, allowing the adhesive to melt and join the edges. Put some weight onto the seam until the adhesive has dried. - 13
Attach the carpet to the tackles strips by placing the knee kicker about 3 inches from the wall and driving your knee forcefully into the padded end. This will stretch the carpet over the tackless strip that will grab and hold it in place. - 14
Trim along the wall with an edge trimmer (cuts through the carpet right at the wall). - 15
Attach the carpet on the opposite side of the room using the power stretcher to fasten it to the tackless strips. - 16
Trim away any excess; then, using the stair tool tuck the carpet under the exposed baseboard. - 17
Trim the carpet at the doorway, install a door edge, cut vent openings and install the shoe molding on the baseboard.
