Create a Clean, Clear Surface

• 1). Remove all debris from the basement floor and sweep it clean.
  
  
• 2). Grind the floor with sandpaper, if necessary, to create a smooth, even surface.
  
  
• 3). Examine the room for moist areas, mold or mildew. Clean and disinfect thoroughly with a solution of bleach and water if any mold or mildew is discovered. Repair any moisture leakages immediately. The surface should be thoroughly clean and dry before the carpet is installed.
  
  

Prepare the Surface

• 1). Install tackless strips around the room's outer edges, leaving a few inches of space for molding, if desired. The tackless strips will be used to attach the new carpet.
  
  
• 2). Make sure the pins on the tackless strips face the outer wall.
  
  
• 3). Lay a thick, moisture-proof carpet underpad across the room, and tack it in place to the tackless strips at 6-inch intervals.
  
  
• 4). Seal the underpad firmly at the seams with duct tape.
  
  

Install the Carpet

• 1). Trim the carpet roughly to size with a utility knife.
  
  
• 2). Roll the carpet into place.
  
  
• 3). Use a knee kicker to attach the carpet firmly to the tackless strips. Dig the knee kicker's teeth into the carpet and secure it in place.
  
  
• 4). Set the carpet seams with a seaming iron and seaming tape.
  
  
• 5). Pull the carpet tightly around the edges of the room, using a power stretcher to create an even, professional appearance.
  
  
• 6). Remove any ragged edges and trim the carpet precisely to size with the utility knife.