Tips & Items Needed To Install Carpet Yourself
Installing the new carpet not only enhances the beauty of your room but also provides insulation, sound control & a comfortable surface to walk on. Here are the items list & steps/tips for carpet installation process:
Items List
- Tack Strip Cutter & Hand Stapler
- Wall Trimmer & Top Cutter
- Hammer & Measuring Tape
- Knee Kicker & Carpet knife
- Stair Tool & Razor knife
- Power Stretcher & Gloves
- Carpet & Tackless Strip
- Tape
Tips/Steps
- Clean The Subfloor: First of all make sure that the surface to be carpeted is smooth & clean. Scrape up any paint or joint compound & sweep & vacuum the floor thoroughly.
- Remove The Doors: If possible then try to remove the doors from your room so you won't have to work around them.
- Install The Tackless Strips: Next, cut the tackless strips using a strip cutter or by heavy snips according to the size that is needed. Nail the strips (1/2") from your wall. From one side to another side of the doorways or thresholds you don't need to install tackless strips, the tacks on the strips are sharp & could poke through with the carpet and hurt your feet.
- Install The Carpet Pad: Lay out the carpet pad horizontal to the direction you plan to install your carpet & staple it near tackless strips by using a staple hammer.
- Staple Any Pad Seams: Now, staple seam pad, intersperse staples so that they aren't beside one another. Now stretch the padding, so that the pieces are butted tightly.
- Trim The Pad: Feel through with the padding to locate the tackless strip & then you need to use a utility knife to cut away the padding along with the interior edge of the strip so the tacks are exposed.
- Notch Corners For Trimming: Now, measure the room at its longest point & add 3 inch" to the measurement. Take your carpet outside if possible & notch the back on both sides at the applicable length. The carpet will be easier to handle outside. You will need the help of someone to perform this task.
- Trim The Carpet To Size: Roll your carpet with the back facing apparent until the notched areas show. Then you need to run a chalk line from notch to notch. Cut the back of your carpet along the chalk line, roll up the carpet & take it back inside.
- Trim The Excess Carpet: Roll the carpet out & try to keep it as straight as possible. Cutaway excess carpet, but leave extra inches(3") next to the walls. Layout any additive carpet in order to fill the room.
- Glue The Seams Together: Where the carpet edges join, you will need to create a seam. The seamed edges of both carpet segments must be continuous. Check the edges but make sure not to assume that a factory edge is continuous. Place a piece of patching tape under the seam, adhesive side up.
- Trim Around The Obstacles: Your carpet must be dry fitted making sure to butt one end against a wall. Use a carpet knife to trim your carpet in order to fit around obstacles.
- Attach The First Edge Of The Carpet: Attach your carpet to the tackless strips at one end of the room, using the knee kicker. Place the face of the knee kicker against your carpet about 3 inches away from the wall & forcefully strike the padded end to stretch your carpet over the tackless strips.
- Trim The Excess From The Edges: Trim excess carpet with a wall trimmer, which rests against your wall & provides a continuous cut at the correct spot. Use a stair tool to press the cut edges to subordinate the baseboard trim.
- Stretch The Carpet: Use the power stretcher to attach to the strips on the other side of your room. For corners & alcoves where the power stretcher can't reach, use the knee kicker and stair tool.