Do It Yourself Carpet Installation

A do it yourself carpet installation project is not a simple thing to do, especially if you are a beginner. You need to have sufficient knowledge of the procedures and decide what type of carpet suits your needs.

There are different types of carpet material that vary according to price, strength and durability. The do it yourself carpet installation process makes use of your muscles as well as some specialized tools.

Steps in installing do it yourself carpets

First, trim the tackless strips to fit each wall. Secure them around the rooms perimeter floor using masonry nails, allowing space between the strip and the wall of about 2/3 of the carpets thickness. If the carpet is to be placed on top of tile flooring, remove the tiles from the areas where the strips should be nailed. If the carpet is to be installed on concrete, you will need a special gripper edge.

Next, place padding strips over the tackless strips on all walls facing up and stapled six inches apart on the edges. Cut the excess strips using a utility knife, and seal the seams with duct tape.

Shear the carpet several inches longer than the dimension of the room, overlap on the edges, and then trim the excess. Line the back of the overlapped carpet edges with a chalk and then cut a straight edge, using this as a guide to cut the bottom piece with a row cutter.

Place the seaming tape in the center, under the seam. Iron on the adhesive tape, and as it melts, the carpet edges would stick together on the tape. Roll the seam with a rolling pin.

On the other side, dig knee-kicker teeth in the carpet near the wall. The padded end requires that you knee-kick in order for the carpet to be attached to the tackless strip.

Place a power stretcher base at the wall that was hooked, making sure that its lever is pressed down before stretching on the opposite wall. Apply the same to the other walls.

Finishing the do it yourself carpet project

Using the wall trimmer, trim all carpet excesses for a neat finish. Then using the stair tool, push the edges between the wall and tackless strips. Cut the carpet excess. Use a gripper edge to hold the carpet in place. You can also use metal strips to hold down the carpet.

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