How to Tack Down Carpet

Set down your tack strips about 3/8 inch from the wall.

Nail the tack strip into the floor using carpentry nails and a hammer.

Roll out the foam underlayment in the room and cut it to the size of the room using a utility knife. Make a template of any large objects in the room that keep the carpet or foam from being a square, using a piece of paper and a pencil. Trace out the object onto the paper and use it to cut around the underlayment and carpeting. Cut the underlayment so that it stops before it reaches the tack board.

Pour out a thin layer of underlayment adhesive on the floor and slowly roll the underlayment onto it. Tape the seams of the underlayment with seam tape.

Roll out the carpeting across the floor and cut it at the walls with a utility knife. Save any pieces for filler. Cut the carpet at the seams, using a seam cutter so the edge is straight. Cut the filler piece to fit into any places where carpet is needed. Add a bead of silicone seam sealer and lay down the filler carpet. Place the seam tape underneath the carpet at the seam and heat it with a seam iron. Press the carpet down onto the seam tape.

Place a knee kicker facing toward the wall where your tack board is located and hit the knee kicker into the carpet. Stretch the carpet onto the tack and hit the tack with a hammer to hook the carpet on it. Do this all around the room. Cut away any excess carpet with a utility knife.