You Can Do It Your Self!

Installing a carpet is not the impossible task you imagine. It involves using some specialized tools and some muscles. Once you have chosen the carpet of your choice, the work of installation begins. Here is how you go about it -

Steps while installing a carpet

1) Installing Tackless Strips - by using a saw or shears, cut a length of tackless strip to fit each wall. Then nail the strips around the perimeter of the room, leavins a space between the tackless strip and the wall that equals 2/3 of the thickness of the carpet.

2) Install Carpet Padding - then cut the padding in long strips that fit the length of the room. Lay out your padding waffle side facing up and staple it with its edge at every 6 inches.

3) Cut and Lay the Carpet - then measure the length of the room and width and cut the carpet 4-6 inches longer than the room's dimensions. Cut the carpet from the backside. Overlap each piece at the edges and make sure the carpet that its pile is facing the same direction.

4) Cut the Carpet Seam - further, overlap the edges of the carpet leaving about 2 inches of it at the wall. Then, snap a chalk line on the back of the overlapped carpet edges, trim a straight edge to ensure a straight seam and overlap the straight edges. Cut the bottom piece. The edge of the top piece should guide you in cutting the seam to fit.

5) Cut a length of seaming tape and then center it under the seam - The adhesive side of the tape should face up and the carpet seams butt up against each other. Use a seaming iron for melting the adhesive by pulling the iron down the tape. Once it has melted, press the edges together over the tape and roll over the seam with rolling pin.

6) Using the Knee Kicker And Power Stretcher to Attach the Carpet - Hook the carpet to tackless strip and dig the teeth of the knee kicker into it about 1 inch from the wall. Then kick the cushioned end of the knee kicker to hook the carpet properly. Then use the power stretcher for stretching the carpet to the opposite wall. Put its base at the hooked wall and pad the wall. Dig the teeth of the power stretcher at about 6 inches from the opposite wall. Then stretch the carpet and attach it to the tackless strips. Next, hook the opposite corner, following the same procedure, until the carpet is attached around the entire perimeter of the room.

7) Trim The Excess Carpet And Smooth Out The Edges - using wall trimmer, trim the excess carpet at each wall. When you get to the end of the wall, trim the last few inches with a utility knife. Use a stair tool to smooth out the edges.

8) Install a Gripper Edge - Finally, trim the carpet at the doorway and centering the end of it under the shut door. Install a gripper edge to hold the carpet in place.


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http://www.carpethomeimprovement.com