How to Install Integral-Pad Carpet

Measuring and Cutting

• 1

  Measure the area to be carpeted, taking the length and width of the room.

• 2

  Cut the carpet so that it measures an extra inch on each side. For example, if the room was 70 inches wide, you would want the carpet to be 72 inches wide.--one extra inch on each side.

• 3

  Lay the carpet down in the room. If you have more than one piece, make sure the piles are going in the same direction. If you only have one piece of carpet, you won't have to worry about seams and can skip ahead to Section 3.

Joining Seams

• 4

  Pull back one piece of carpet where the pieces meet.

• 5

  Draw a line on the floor by running a pencil next to the piece of carpet that is still laying on the floor.

• 6

  Pull back the second piece of carpet. Do not put the first piece of carpet back down yet.

• 7

  Apply carpet tape to the floor, carefully centering it above the line you drew.

• 8

  Pull paper backing off the tape.

• 9

  Lay one piece of carpet down so it covers half the tape.

• 10

  Apply a line of seam adhesive to the edge of the carpet that is now attached to the tape.

• 11

  Lay the second piece of carpet on top of the remaining tape.

• 12

  Press the carpet firmly into place with a seam roller. If you don't have a seam roller, raid your kitchen for a rolling pin.

• 13

  Brush the carpet pile together to help the seam disappear from view.

Finishing the Outer Edges

• 14

  Pull back two adjoining outer edges. Be careful not to slide the carpet out of place.

• 15

  Apply a border of carpet tape on the now exposed floor. Smooth the tape and then remove the paper backing.

• 16

  Drop the carpet onto the tape.

• 17

  Use your hands to smooth the carpet above the tape, so it can get a good grip.

• 18

  Repeat with remaining sides of the room.

• 19

  Trim excess carpet from the edges.

• 20

  Push edges under the baseboard to finish. Or put a shoe molding in place on top of the carpet. Secure the shoe molding by nailing it into the baseboard, not the floor.