How to Install Carpet Yourself
By Judah Hamilton

There are different techniques and ways to lay carpet. There are also different ways to hold the carpet in place. I have heard of people just relying on the furniture to hold it in place, but taking the time to install it correctly will make it look beautiful. Depending on the type of carpet will help determine which method to hold it in place. The options are:

1. Tack Strips
2. Double-sided tape
3. Carpet tacks

Tack strips are metal or wooden strips with little spikey teeth attached to them that grip the carpet. They were not designed for use with carpets that have rubber backing but are unfortunately used with them often. The tack strips are installed by nailing them to the floor near the baseboard about a quarter of an inch from it. The spikey teeth must face toward the wall. The carpet underlay must go up to the strips and not over them.

Double-sided tape is what is used for the rubber backed carpets. Pull the backing off the usually two inch adhesive tape and stick it around the perimeter of the room. Then the backing is can be pulled off the top of the tape and the carpet is stuck on top of the adhesive to hold it in place.

Carpet tacks are used by folding the edge of the carpet under itself about two inches and nailing it down. The carpet underlay should have a two inch space from the wall to allow for this. The carpet tacks should be installed about eight inches apart and they can be covered from being seen with the carpet pile. All is needed is to rub the pile with your fingers after installation and the pile will cover the head of the carpet tack.

When installing underlay, use carpet tape or tacks to hold the underlay in place. Next install the tack strips around the perimeter of the room. To lay the carpet, find a machined edge (cut at factory) if possible to start with. Attach this edge first to the tack strips along the wall, then stretch the carpet across the room to the other side and attach it to the tack strips on the other side but do not cut anything yet. Start in the middle of the room and start smoothing it out working your way out to the edges. By cutting triangle notches at the corners, it will help the carpet to lay flat. Once everything is nice and flat attach it to the tack strips securely. There is a special tool called a bolster chisel for pressing the carpet into the corners. The edges of the carpet should be trimmed at a forty-five degree angle to the baseboards and then hooked onto the tack strips.

Carpet must be cut to fit around things such as doorways, stairs, and other obstacles. Carpet can be joined in a doorway with a threshold bar. It is a strip that connects carpet from two rooms together.

Carpet can also be joined together, as long as the seams are straight, with latex based adhesive glue. If it is rubber backed carpet then the double sided adhesive tape can be used. In some cases with really nice woven carpets you can have them professionally sewn together.

Once all the carpet has been laid and installed and you are satisfied with the results the last step is usually vacuuming the new carpet to get rid of any pieces of the pile that may have come off the carpet while cutting and laying it. Then all is needed is to just enjoy your new carpet!

Richmond Decorating Center offers the largest selection and cheapest prices for Richmond carpet.

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