| tart --> | | | | the measurement of the longest wall plus 6" on both |
| Carpet installation by professionals may cost you | | | | edges of the carpet. Using the chalk line, join the two |
| more than you thought. If you look at the itemization | | | | marks. Place scrap piece lumber the carpet you're |
| on the bill you'll find something that may look like this: | | | | about to cut (so you don't accidentally cut through |
| $2.40/sq. yd. For old carpet removal, $4.75/sq. yd. to | | | | the carpet underneath!) and use a utility knife and |
| install new carpet, $10.25 (each) to install carpet on | | | | straight edge to cut off the piece you've just |
| stairs, $30 per hour to move furniture, $.20 per linear | | | | marked. |
| foot to replace tackless strip... and so on. You get | | | | Using Knee Kickers and Carpet Stretchers |
| the picture. | | | | Place the toothed end of the knee kicker into the |
| Tools & Equipment | | | | carpet about 3" from the wall and push your knee |
| So here's a short primer on how to install carpet | | | | with as much force as possible into the padded end |
| yourself. Although it's not an easy job, it's not brain | | | | of the kicker. The idea is to stretch the carpet over |
| surgery, either. You'll need include a tape measure, | | | | the tackless strip where the teeth of the strip will |
| utility knife, hammer, heavy-duty stapler, chalk line, | | | | grab it, holding it tightly in place. |
| duct tape, gloves, carpet seam tape, safety goggles, | | | | Place one end of the carpet stretcher against the |
| and kneepads. Rental equipment includes a knee | | | | wall where you've attached the carpet with the |
| kicker, a carpet stretcher, a seam cutter, seaming | | | | other end of it about six inches from the opposite |
| iron, seam roller, wall trimmer, and strip cutter. | | | | wall. Pushing the lever on it, stretch the carpet to fit |
| Getting Ready | | | | snugly over the tackless strip on the opposite side of |
| First remove all baseboards and cut manageable | | | | the room. Work your way around the perimeter of |
| strips of the old carpet (about 2' wide) with the utility | | | | the room, trimming the excess carpet at the edges |
| knife. Loosen it from the tackless strips and roll up. | | | | with a wall trimmer. |
| Remove the tackless strips and the old carpet | | | | Working With Seams |
| underlay. Vacuum area thoroughly. | | | | Overlap the first piece of carpet by 4" to 6", and |
| Install new tackless strips around the perimeter of | | | | with the seam cutter, cut through both layers, |
| the room with teeth facing the wall. Using a block of | | | | making sure the edges match exactly. Pull back the |
| wood as a spacer, leave about a ½" space | | | | seam and center (adhesive side up) a strip of |
| between the strip and the wall. | | | | seaming tape on the floor beneath. Run the seaming |
| Laying Underlayment & Carpet | | | | iron along the tape to activate the adhesive and then |
| Beginning at a corner and hooking it over the tackless | | | | replace the two carpet seams down onto it. Go over |
| strips, lay new underlay strips right next to one | | | | the seam with a carpet seam roller. |
| another, but don't overlap them. Staple along the | | | | Tuck down the carpet between the wall and the |
| inner side of the tackless strip and then trim excess. | | | | tackless strips using a stair tool and hammer. Trim |
| Duct tape the seams. | | | | carpet at doorways with centered edges and install |
| Roll out the carpet and fold one end over itself. Mark | | | | door-edge strips. Replace baseboards, and... |