Steps For Installing Carpet on a Concrete Slab

Homes with a slab floor or a concrete floored garage can become comfortable family spaces with the addition of the warmth of carpet. Installing carpet over concrete requires an even surface, the right tools and some prior expertise before attempting. Take care to prepare your tools in advance and read up on the procedure before digging in. The more care you take upfront, the better your outcome will be.

Chisel
Hammer
Safety goggles
Thinset
Trowel
Level
Concrete sealant
Tack strips
1/2-inch carpet padding
Wide, clear tape
Two-sided carpet tape
Carpet
Razor knife
Knee kicker
Carpet stretcher

Instructions

- 1
  Eliminate small bumps and lumps in the concrete with a chisel and hammer. Be sure to wear safety goggles to protect from flying debris.
- 2
  
  Thinset will even out valleys in the floor.
  
  Apply thinset with a trowel to any areas that are lower than the rest of the concrete. A level will help to determine these areas. Hold the trowel at an angle and push down and away to spread the thinset. Apply evenly. Refer to product directions for drying time.
- 3
  
  Repair cracks with a patching product.
  
  Repair larger cracks with a cement patching product. Don't carpet over a large crack that may get bigger over time. Let the patch dry for a sufficient amount of time, according to the product directions.
- 4
  Seal the concrete with waterproof paint or concrete sealant. This will prevent moisture from causing the concrete to crack.
- 5
  Install carpet tack strips with a hammer. The tack strip is a narrow strip of wood with metal teeth and concrete nails that have been set into it. Hammer the concrete nails into the floor. The metal teeth grab hold of the carpet when it is laid on top. Put the tack strips around the perimeter of the room, about 1/4 inch from the wall or the baseboard, if that is already in place.
- 6
  Roll the carpet padding over the whole floor. Butt it up to the edge of the tack strips. If you need to cut the padding and make a seam, connect the two pieces with wide, clear tape. Secure the carpet padding in place with two-sided tape.
- 7
  Cut the carpet so it is the exact size of the room.
- 8
  Lay the carpet down on top of the padding. Be certain the carpet is securely on top of the tack strips.
- 9
  Use the knee kicker to secure the carpet along one wall and attach to the tack strip.
- 10
  Use a carpet stretcher to attach the carpet to the other three walls.
- 11
  
  Cut off excess carpet with a razor knife.
  
  If the carpet is too big in some areas, cut off the excess with a razor knife.

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