DIY Carpet Seaming

When you install new carpeting in a large room, you will probably have to seam two sections of carpet together. This may seem like a daunting task, and your instinct may be to hire a professional carpet layer to do the job. But you'd be surprised at how easy it is to get a professional-looking carpet seam yourself with only a few special tools and a little patience.

Carpet or utility knife
Straight edge
Seaming tape
Seaming Iron
Scrap carpet
Carpet roller or rolling pin
Heavy items

Instructions

- 1
  Lay your carpet pieces, overlapping the two sections you are joining. Make sure the nap on the carpet is facing the same direction on both pieces.
- 2
  Cut through both pieces of carpet at the center point of the overlap with a carpet or utility knife and a straight edge.
- 3
  Place a piece of seaming tape on the floor, centered under the seam and adhesive side up.
- 4
  Heat the seaming iron to the temperature recommended for the type of seaming tape you are using.
- 5
  Starting at the end of the seam, lift both pieces of carpet and place the heated seaming iron on the tape. When the tape starts to melt, usually after about 15 to 30 seconds, slide the seaming iron down the tape, pressing the carpet pieces down as you go.
- 6
  Use a carpet roller or rolling pin to firmly press the carpet pieces onto the tape. Place heavy items as weights along your seam to keep the carpet in place as the tape sets.

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