How to Glue Carpeting for a Basement Floor

Measure the dimensions of the room, both room length and width, and add 6 extra inches to the measurements when ordering the carpet to allow for cutting space.

Inspect the floor with a leveling bar. Run the bar over the floor's surface, looking under the flat bar for any rises or dips in the concrete. Mark any unlevel areas for later leveling, using a piece of chalk. Lower the high spots on the concrete floor using a concrete floor grinder. Run the grinder over the high spot until the surface is level with the surrounding basement floor.

Sweep away any grinding residue. Level the low spots by filling the area with self-leveling compound. Pour the compound into the low area and spread the material with a trowel and squeegee. Allow the compound to dry for the length of time specified by the manufacturer before continuing with the carpet installation.

Place a strip of double-faced carpet tape around the perimeter of the room. Leave the paper covering the top of the tape in place.

Use a glue trowel to spread carpet glue over the concrete. Apply the glue using a fan-like pattern, spreading it in a thin layer beginning at the corner farthest from the door to the room. Cover about two feet from the far wall with the adhesive.

Place the roll of carpeting against the far wall, covering the glued space with the edge of the carpet placed four inches up the wall. Spread glue along the rest of the room, unrolling the carpet across the surface of the basement as you move along.

Cut a slit down each corner of the carpet with a carpet knife. Cut the strip from the top to about an inch above the floor. Remove the paper covering the double-faced tape and press the carpet edges firmly onto the tape. Trim the carpet with the knife along the edge of the room, cutting away all but 1/2 inch of the extra carpeting running up the wall. Push the extra carpeting beneath the baseboards surrounding the room with a carpet tucker to complete the installation.