Have you spotted just recently that your existing carpet is getting worse with matting, stains, or perhaps even a foul smell, and you wonder if it’s the right time to change it? Of course, it is. Forget flagstone tiles and hardwood flooring; there’s nothing more satisfactory than sinking your toes into a warm and squishy carpet when you get home from an exhausting day at work, and it’s freezing outside.
The appropriate carpet can do wonders for any room. Plus, there’s such a variety of colors, textures, and patterns available to choose from, making the process very creative and exceedingly fun. Carpets can add a luxurious and indulgent feeling to any home and express a lot about your family’s lifestyle and personality. They also represent a large and quite often expensive part of any home, so you certainly don’t want to get it wrong. So, how do you install a brand new carpet in your home?
When installing a new carpet, there are a lot of things to consider. It can be one of the most difficult things to get right in your home, from color and texture to size and budget. The first option is to bring in professional contractors to get the job done. With prices for fitting carpet being as low as ever, perhaps it’s for the best to call a professional carpeting service and spare yourself the time, risk, damages, smells, and everything else that comes with the installation of a new carpet.
The other option is to save some money and do the project yourself. If you are sure that you have the right set of skills, equipment, and the much-needed experience to do the task on your own, you have found the right internet article for today. We have teamed up with carpeting professionals to bring you profound advice on precisely what installing a new carpet entails. Here’s our step-by-step guide on how to install a carpet like a professional.
Step 1: Measure The Room Where You Want To Install A New Carpet
The first step is crucial for successfully planing your budget and purchasing the best quality carpet that you can afford. Carefully measure the room’s length and width, where you’ll install the carpet at the widest points. Afterward, multiply the two measurements to get the idea of the total square meters required. Once you know the exact dimensions of the room, you will be able to figure out the approximate price of the carpet by multiplying the measured number by the square meter price of your desired carpet.
Step 2: Make The Right Carpet Choice
As a matter of fact, step two is where all the fun begins. Once you know the right dimensions of the room, now it’s the time to consider if you want to install a carpet that you can sink your feet into or one that’s firm and coarse. This may also depend on which room of your home you are carpeting.
For instance, high traffic areas like staircases and hallways require more hardwearing fiber. On the other hand, living rooms and bedrooms can afford to have a softer material installed like wool or an 80:20 wool to nylon blend. These materials provide a delicate balance between softness and durability.
Please have in mind that higher quality carpets will last longer than cheap ones, so it may be worth splurging on better quality material and to save your money in the long run.
Step 3: Plan The Dispose Of Your Old Carpet
Decide how you’ll dispose of your old carpet beforehand because this misstep can cost you some money. The majority of carpet retailers do this thing for you on the day your new carpet is delivered but make sure to look into their recycling policy. Better yet, if your carpet is in a reasonable condition, you can donate it to a furniture charity workshop or give it away to someone who will make fair use of it. Also, numerous animal shelters accept carpet donations because they use them as mats for kennels and other animals.
Step 4: Clear The Room And Remove Your Old Carpet
Remove the furniture from the room because you’ll need access to the entire floor. Vacuum your old carpet to get rid of any dust before you pull it up, and then you’re good to proceed with removing. Start in one corner and pull up the carpet with pliers. You can use a carpet knife to slice the old rug into manageable strips and roll it up as you go. Make sure to wear heavy-duty gloves to avoid cutting your hands from the sharp edges. If you want to save yourself the hassle, you can always get someone to do the carpet removal for you.
Step 5: Remove The Underlay
Don’t try to save money by keeping your old underlay because it’s probably worn out altogether with your old carpet, and a new underlay will prolong your new carpet’s lifespan. The underlay is either stapled or glued around the perimeter of the floor. If it’s glued, a scraper and an adhesive remover should be all of the weapons you need to tackle the project. If it’s stapled, a flat-bladed screwdriver and a pair of pliers will do the trick. Afterward, just like the carpet, cut the underlay into smaller sections and pull it up, starting with the edges.
Step 6: Air The Room And Take Advantage Of The Bare Floor
With dust and fibers around, open the room’s windows and ventilate the room as long as you can. Also, if your floor is uneven or damaged, now is the perfect time to repair it. Vacuum the floor and remove any debris left behind from the old carpet and underlay.
Step 7: Install The New Carpet And Match Up The Carpet Seams
When the room is clean, aired, and you’re sure that the new carpet has a perfect size, stretch the carpet across the room, and don’t leave any gaps. Also, the carpet pieces should be slightly larger than the room with a slight overlay of up to five inches.
After you make sure that the carpet is stretched out and the lines are straight, glue the parts where the carpet edges join. Use a seaming iron and tape to join the edges together until there are no gaps between them. Right after it becomes one big carpet, it’s time to attach the carpet to the strips. To do this, stretch the carpet over the tack strips with appropriate tools until it’s connected and voila, enjoy your new carpet!
Final Words
Well, there you have it. If you insist on tackling the project on your own, follow our seven-step guide and install your new carpet as a professional would. Still, if you have any troubles or second thoughts, we recommend you to consult with professional contractors and spare yourself the hassle.
