Carpet Laying Tips

Prepare Floor

• Carefully remove the molding around the floor with a flat pry bar and a hammer. Remove door molding and the doors. Remove old carpet, padding or flooring. Remove all staples, tackless strips and/or glue. Check the subfloor for such defects as dips, holes or cracks. Repair shallow areas with floor leveler, found in home improvement stores. Sweep and vacuum the floor, including the corners, thoroughly.

Install Carpet

• Purchase tackless strips from a home improvement or carpet store. These strips contain a series of tacks that grip the carpet and keep it from pulling away from the wall. Nail the tackless strips to the floor ½-inch from the walls so the tacks slant toward the wall. Cut to fit with heavy snips. The tacks on the strips can cut through the carpet, so do not install tackless strips across doorways and walkways.

  Install padding. Staple the edges in front of the tackless strips and on both sides of seams where the padding was joined throughout the room. Trim the padding with a utility knife so the tackless strip is fully exposed for the carpet.

  If possible, take the carpet to a larger room or outside. Unroll it and use the room measurement plus 6 inches to determine the best way for the carpet to fit with the fewest splices. If the carpet needs to be trimmed to fit, notch each edge to mark the cutting point. Roll the carpet up, with the back facing out, until the notches are reached. Place a chalk line in the notches and snap the line to transfer the chalk to the back of the carpet. Use a carpet knife to cut off the excess carpet. Unroll the carpet and repeat with the measurement for the other side of the room.

  If the carpet is too short to go the entire span of the room, or needs a piece added to fit in an alcove, it will need to be spliced. Lay both pieces with the bottom up so there is a 4- to 5-inch overlap. Use a carpet knife to cut through both pieces of carpet at the same time so they will match perfectly. Join with carpet tape according to package directions. Roll up the carpet, take it inside and roll it out on the floor.

  Use a knee kicker to stretch and attach the carpet to the tackless strip. They can be rented or purchased from a home improvement or carpet store. Start with the longest wall. Position the knee kicker 2 to 3 inches from the edge of the carpet and, using the area above your knee, strike the knee kicker on the padded section to stretch the carpet over the tackless strip. Continue for the entire wall, then start the opposite wall. Repeat with the other sides of the room.

  When the entire perimeter of the room is done, trim the carpet that is overhanging the tackless strips with a wall trimmer or carpet knife. Reinstall floor trim and doors.