Step By Step Instructions Of Installing Carpet Padding On Concrete
If you are looking to significantly change the appearance as well as add extra comfort to the basement or garage, then the best option is to lay carpet over concrete flooring. A thick layer of padding below the carpet will be very helpful to ease the stress on the feet even more. However, the hardness of the material as well as the unique atmospheric conditions usually found in rooms with concrete floors need a homeowner to use slightly different tools and methods when laying carpet padding on concrete instead of traditional wooden floors. In order to install carpet padding on concrete, collect the certain items required for the process first before going through the below-mentioned easy step by step instructions carefully:
Items Needed
- Broom & Sealer(Optional)
- Work Gloves
- Gripper Edges Or Tackless Strips
- Hammer & Masonry Nails
- Hacksaw(Optional)
- Carpet Adhesive
- Utility Knife
- Duct Tape
Step By Step Instructions
- Clean The Floor: First of all, you need to clean the floor and get rid of any debris as well as residue. Spread a coat of sealer if the concrete is susceptible or vulnerable to sweating or dampness.
- Install Gripper Edges Or Tackless Strips: The next step is to place or fix gripper edges or tackless strips, that are particularly made for concrete, around the perimeter of the room. Maintain a gap betwixt the wall and the strip that's nearly the size of 2/3 the thickness of the carpet. Position the tacks toward the wall and affix the strips to the flooring with the help of at least two masonry nails per strip. Make sure that the strips sit flush in opposition to each other, even in the corners, trimming the strips to size with the help of a hacksaw if necessary.
- Cut The Padding: Now, trim the padding in order to fit the length of the room. To cover the tackless strips, there should be enough room for the padding. Spread carpet adhesive directly to the cement floor as per the instructions on its label. Use the carpet adhesive that is highly recommended by the carpet manufacturer.
- Unroll The Carpet Padding: Start the installation process at one side of the room and stretch or unfold the carpet padding over the adhesive-covered cement. Put down the padding as smoothly and evenly as possible, positioning the side with the waffle pattern upward. Go back and free or loosen any bumps as soon as the padding is laid.
- Lay The Second Strip Of Padding: Now, put down a second strip of padding next to the first. Line the edge flush in opposition to the edge of the previously laid strip, however, you need to be careful not to overlap the strips. Keep laying padding as long as the entire floor is covered in padding. Work quickly to put down the padding before the carpet adhesive dries.
- Protect The Seams: Finally, you need to cut away any padding that is covering the tackless strips. We highly recommend leaving a 1/8 to 1/4-inch gap betwixt the edge of the tackless strip and the edge of the carpet padding. Protect the seams in the padding with the help of duct tape.