Replace old carpet or scratched hardwood with new carpet to give your home an updated look.
Carpet comes in ahuge assortment of colors and designs.
Additionally, DIYers need tomeasure the roomwhere they will implement the carpet.
Credit:Getty Images / Mike Kemp
Proper measurements are key for the success of this job.
Measure the length and width of the room, and add 2 to 4 inches to each measurement.
With the subfloor exposed, use a broom and vacuum to get rid of any leftover dust and debris.
If any doors open into the room, remove them until after the installation is complete.
Tack strips should wrap around door frames but should not be placed across the doorway.
Leave a small gap between the tack strips and the wall, about two-thirds the thickness of the carpet.
When you are ready, nail the tack strips to the wooden subfloor.
Install Carpet Padding
Measure and cut the carpet padding to fit the room.
Use a utility knife to cut through the carpet padding.
Then, use a staple gun to fasten the carpet padding along the edge of the tack strip.
Use duct tape to tape neighboring pieces of carpet padding together along the seams.
Measure and Cut the Carpet
Take careful measurements before cutting the carpet.
Unroll enough carpet to measure and cut a suitable size piece.
Unroll the Carpet and Secure the Seams
Start unrolling the carpet in one corner of the room.
Against each wall, there should be about 2 to 4 inches of excess carpet that overlaps.
Unroll the carpet so that it covers the floor and tack strips.
Heat the tape with a seaming iron to activate the adhesive and bind the seams together.
Press down on the seam to help the carpet stick to the seaming adhesive.
After securing the seams, wait 20 minutes before anchoring and stretching the carpet.
Start in one corner of the room.
Use your knee to hit the flat, vertical part of the knee kicker.
The impact should tack the carpet onto the strip.
Use a carpet stretcher to then stretch the carpet across the room.
Then, switch back to the knee kicker to anchor the carpet to the tack strip.
Work slowly to avoid tearing the carpet or scratching the molding.
