Save Money by Installing Your Own Carpet
Watch these two videos and you may decide you want to save money and install the carpet yourself. If you want to do this thats wonderful, we will be happy to deliver your new carpet and new underpadto your home.
By the way: We will still give you the best price on the carpet and pad even if you want to install it yourself 🙂
Watch the videos and read the written description below.
How to Install Carpet Yourself Video
How to Seam Carpet Video
How to Lay Carpet Yourself
You will need some specialized tools but these are not expensive tools and available for rent at your local equipment rental store.
Included in the tool kit are hammer, utility knife (really, really sharp), tape measure, stapler, safety goggles, knee pads.
You will probably have to rent a Knee kicker, wall trimmer, hot seaming iron, and purchase the seam tape.
Preparing your floor for carpet installation
If you are careful in removing your old carpet you may likely be able to reuse the old smooth edge (tackless strips). If you are installing carpet for the first time then you will also have to purchase enough smooth edge cover the parameter of the room.
If you are going to ask me whether or not you can re-use your old carpet underpad I will suggest you do not. Carpet padding will wear just like anything else over time plus underlay is porous and will fill with fine dust particulates, dust mites, animal dander, and dead skin flakes. For your other questions here is a page with the most commonly asked questions about carpet.
Once you have removed the old carpet and underpad; sweep or vacuum, and wash the floor.
Installing the carpet underpad and smooth edge
The smoothedge is nailed into place along the wall leaving a space about 1/2 in away from the wall. Leave the doorways or thresholds bare of the smooth edge unless you are transitioning to another material and there is a lip (see video above). The pins face the wall.
The carpet padding must cover the room without allowing it to overlap. If the pad does overlap, just peal it back and trim off the excess then staple it every six inches along the inner edge. The seams are sealed with tape.
How to cut your carpet
Remember you are only going to get to cut the carpet once, so make sure the room was measured at its longest point.
If you are cutting a loop carpet – cut it on the carpet side and cutting a pile carpet you cut it on the backing. Also it is important you lay the carpet in the same direction of every other room including the hallway or it will appear to be a different colour.
Seam the carpet where necessary before you kick it into place.
Kicking the carpet
Put the head of the kicker about three inches back from the wall to allow for a good kick. the underside of the kicker has ‘teeth’ that grabs the carpet and the kicking action pushes onto the smooth edge tacks and hooks into place. (watch the carpet installation video)
Using your tool then tuck the carpet down into the space between the smooth edge and the wall and trim around the doorways, install moldings and thresholds etc.
You may also be interested in these other articles on carpet installation:
Why Install Carpet?
Installing Your Own Carpet Tips
Installing Carpet on Stairs
What to do Before Your Carpet Installer Arrives
For more information: (905) 802-4791
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