How to Install Carpet

What you'll Need:

Stapler

Hammer

Utility knife

Chalk line

Measuring tape

Rolling pin (or rental seam roller)

Work gloves

Safety glasses

Knee pads

Tackless strips

Tools:

Knee kicker

Power stretcher

Seam cutter

Seaming iron

Seam tape

Wall trimmer

Strip cutter

Seam roller

Get Started:

Objective- Remove old carpet

1. Remove moldings

2. Take off door

3. Vacuum old carpet

4. Cut the carpet into strips 18 to 24 inches wide

5. Pull the carpet off the tackless strip

6. Remove the tackless strip

7. Make sure the floor is clean and dry

Objective- Prepare for pad

Install new tackless strips around the room

The tackless strips should not be in front of the door

The tackless strip should be ½ an inch from the wall

The pins should face the wall

The tackless strips should butt up in the corners

Laying the Underpad

1. Put the strips of the pad down to overlap the tackless strip

2. Butt the strips next to each other

3. Cut off the excess pad along the inside of the tackless strip

4. Use duct tape to seal the seams

Laying the Carpet

1. Start with a piece that overlaps the edge of the floor by 4 to 6 inches

2. Measure the room at its longest point and add 6 inches to the measurement

3. Mark the back of your carpet on both edges with that measurement

4. Join the two marks with a chalk line

5. Fold the carpet over on itself

6. Using a straight edge and a sharp utility knife, cut through the backside of your carpet place a piece of scrap board underneath your cut line to protect the underlying carpet

Laying the Carpet: Seams

1. Follow the same steps if an additional piece is required (measure, mark, and trim)

2. Make sure the carpet pile is running the same way in both pieces

3. Overlap the carpet pieces where they will join

4. Using a utility knife or a rented seam cutter, cut through both pieces of carpet, ensuring the edges will match exactly

5. Center a piece of seaming tape on the floor underneath where they join, adhesive side up

6. Use the seaming iron to activate the adhesive

7. Butt the edges together and seal the seam with a rolling pin or a carpet roller.

Attaching the Carpet

1. Use a knee kicker to attach the carpet along one edge

2. Place the toothed end of the kicker about 3" from the wall and drive your knee forcefully into the padded end of the tool.

3. Put one end of the carpet stretcher against the wall where the carpet is already attached

4. Place the other end about 6 inches from the far wall

5. Use the teeth to grip the carpet

6. Push on the activation lever to stretch the carpet over the tackless strip near the far wall.

Work your way around the room stretching the carpet over the tackless strips

7. Trim the carper near the wall with a utility knife or a wall trimmer

Finishing Up

1. Using a stair tool, tuck the carpet down into the gap between the tackless strips and the wall

2. At the doorway, trim the carpet so the edge is centered under the closed door and install a door edge strip

3. Cut any vent openings and install the molding on the baseboards.