Installing wall to wall carpeting isn’t a job that everyone wants to take on, but with some hard work and planning along with some specialized tools (that you can rent), it is certainly possible. An added bonus is by installing it yourself, you can afford to buy a better grade of carpet. Here are some tips for do-it-yourself carpet installation.
Instructions
Step 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.
Step 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.
Step 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.
Step 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.
Step 5
Measure your room at its longest point and add at least 4 inches to that measurement.
Step 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.
Step 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).
Step 8
Bring the carpet into the room, roll it out and “dry fit” it.
Step 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.
Step 10
Use a seam cutter to cut through both pieces of carpet (at the same time)–this will ensure you have edges that line.
Step 11
Cut a piece of seaming tape and center it under the two pieces of carpet, adhesive side up.
Step 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.
Step 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.
Step 14
Trim along the wall with an edge trimmer (cuts through the carpet right at the wall).
Step 15
Attach the carpet on the opposite side of the room using the power stretcher to fasten it to the tackless strips.
Step 16
Trim away any excess; then, using the stair tool tuck the carpet under the exposed baseboard.
Step 17
Trim the carpet at the doorway, install a door edge, cut vent openings and install the shoe molding on the baseboard.
Tips & Warnings
- Tackless strips come in a range of sizes; be sure your are using the correct one.
- When you’re buying your carpet measure your room at its longest and widest points, multiply the two numbers together to get square feet and then divide by 9 to get square yards. Add 10 percent for a “fudge” factor (matching patterns, trimming and wastage) to figure the final quantity of carpet you’ll need to buy.
- Tackless strips are sharp, so always wear gloves when handling them.
