DIY Carpet Over a Concrete Slab Floor

Chisel away any noticeable lumps and bumps in your concrete slab. Apply thinset to any valleys or imperfections. Allow the thinset to cure properly according to directions.

Thoroughly clean the concrete. Allow it to dry. Apply adhesive primer to areas that are covered with thinset or areas where adhesive will be applied. Primer will ensure that the adhesive will properly adhere.

Apply the tack strips along the border of your walls. If the tack strips have concrete nails, you should firmly hammer in the strips. Use a proper concrete adhesive if the tack strips do not have concrete nails. Set the tack strips approximately 1/2 inch from the wall or baseboard.

Apply padding adhesive to the concrete near the tack strips. Roll out the carpet pad across the entire floor to the tack strips. Apply padding adhesive where the seams will lie. Allow the padding to adhere securely. Tape any seams in the padding.

Roll out your carpet over the padding. Allow 1/2 inch over the tack strip that you are using to square your carpet. Tape the underside of any seams, then iron them. Make sure the seams are invisible. Re-lay the carpet if seams are still visible. Re-tape and iron them until they are invisible.

Use a knee kicker to pull the carpet to the wall. Attach the carpet to the tack strip. Cut off any excess carpet, leaving approximately 1/2 inch over all tack strips.

Use a carpet stretcher to pull the rest of the carpet to the walls. Attach it to the tack strips when the carpet is lying flat and completely stretched. Use a straight blade--such as a putty knife or similar tool--to push the excess carpet in between the tack strips and the wall or baseboard. Go around the entire perimeter a second time and make certain the carpet is firmly attached to the tack strips.