How easy or hard is it to lay a carpet?

Question

We have a carpet to lay, for a small bedroom. It really is a small room, and were wondering how easy it would be for my husband to lay himself?

What would he need, and how would he do it?

Answer 1

Laying carpet is easier than you think! In fact, all you need is some information, tools and equipment that you can rent, plus the will to accomplish the job!

Tools and Materials

Row running knife

Knee kicker

Seaming iron

Hot melt seaming tape

Power stretcher

Tackless strip

Carpet padding

Gripper edge

Masonry nails

Preparing Your Floors

Installing carpet begins with preparing your floors. If you have a wooden floor, a thorough sweep or vacuum should do the trick. Nail down any loose floorboards. If you have duct heating, find out where exactly the ducts are underneath the floor so that you don’t nail into them. To do this, wet the floor. The area of the floor that dries first will show you where your ducts are. Mark these areas with chalk so that you can avoid sinking nails into the area during carpet installation.

Installing Tackless Strip

The first step in laying carpet is to install the tackless strip. Cut the tackless strip to fit the length of each wall. You’re going to nail the strips around each wall, leaving about an eight of an inch between the strip and the wall. Nail the strip using masonry nails. The pins should point toward the wall. Make sure that the strips join together at the corners of the room. Remember not to install tackless strip by the sides of the door!

Installing Carpet Padding

The next step is to install the carpet pad. You need the cut the carpet padding in strips long enough to reach the tackless strip. Make sure that the waffle side of the carpet pad is facing up. Staple the carpet padding every 6 inches. If your floor is masonry, you’ll need to glue the carpet padding to the floor. Let the glue dry completely before moving on to the next step in order to prevent the carpet padding from bunching up. Remember that the carpet padding should not overlap, but rather should butt together. Cover seams with duct tape. Cut off any excess carpet padding.

Cutting the Carpet

When cutting the carpet, you need to remember a few points regarding the texture of your carpet. The pile should always face in the same direction, so if you’re going to have seams, make sure that all the pile faces one direction — usually the main doorway is the preferred direction. Here’s a guide:

for pile cut carpet : cut along back of carpet with a utility knife

for loop pile carpet : cut through the face of your carpet

Take a measurement of your room and cut about 4 to 6 inches extra so that you have some excess carpet. Lay the carpet.

Cutting Carpet Seams

To cut the carpet seams, you’ll want to have about 2 inches of overlap in the carpet. Take one end and draw a straight chalk line along the back. Cut along this line with your utility knife, again ensuring that it’s a perfectly straight line. Now lay this over the uncut carpet and use it as a guide with which to trim the adjoining carpet piece.

Take a breather! And now get ready, because you’re about to use your seaming tape!

Cutting and Placing Your Seaming Tape

Cut the seaming tape to measure the length of your carpet seam. Make sure that the adhesive side of the seaming tape is facing up. Center it under the butting edges of the carpet. Now get your seaming iron ready. Heat the seaming tape by slowing dragging the iron over the tape. As soon as an area of seaming tape is heated, press the adjoining edges of carpet over the tape. It’s useful to take a rolling pin and firmly press down the carpet.

Using Your Knee Kicker

Now you’re ready to hook the carpet onto the tackless strips. You’re ready to use the knee kicker! Push the teeth of the knee kicker into the carpet approximately one inch from the wall. Kick the cushioned end of the knee kicker with (that’s right) your knee. This will firmly hook the carpet onto the tackless strip.

Attaching Carpet with the Power Stretcher

The purpose of the power stretcher is to attach the carpet to the wall. Place the bottom of the power stretcher approximately six inches from the wall, using a piece of scrap carpet or padding to protect the wall. Once you’ve pressed down the teeth of the power stretcher into the carpet, lock it into place. Stretch the carpet and hook it onto the tackless strips. Repeat this procedure around the room.

Use your trimmer to cut off the excess carpet.

Installing Your Gripper Edge

The gripper edge covers the carpet around the doorframe so that the door won’t yank the carpet up. Install the gripper edge according the directions on your package.

Congratulations! You’ve successfully installed your carpet! Go brag about your carpet installation know-how to all your friends!

Found: Google.com, see link to direct website.

Answer 2

Any thing is easy once you know how. The best way to learn is by doing it and making your mistakes. I am a fairly proficient DIYer and a plumber by trade. I have tried putting carpet down and found it is one of those jobs that you are probably better off getting a pro. If it is a small room someone who knows what he is doing would be in and out in a few hours.

The main tool you need is a stretcher so you dont get the carpet getting "wrinkles" which looks terrible and easy to trip on. A knife shaped in a hook nice and sharp is what you use to cut it with.

Answer 3

For a small room its quite easy.  Start at the far wall and unroll towards the door.  If you are using grippers you need to fold the carpet over a couple of inches and using a "soft" hammer, tap it over them.  Take your time cutting around chimney b*****s and doors etc.

Answer 4

Depends on the shape of the room

If it square/rectangular its easy

If its not thats when it gets difficult

Answer 5

A small room might be okay to do, but not as easy you think. Once the carpet is down, it 'settles', especially once furniture is back in place, and people have walked on it. It then flattens and you can have excess at the edges.

Carpet layers use stretch equipment as they go along to stop this happening.  If your husband intends to lay the carpet, he will need a sharp stanley knife to cut the edges, otherwise it will 'fray', look a mess, and won't fit neatly against the skirting board. I'm not an expert, but I've laid a couple of carpets, and know the pitfalls. It  is cheaper obviously, if you can do it yourself.  Good luck.

Answer 6

Its quite easy...

All I used is a Stanley knife, large scissors, Chisel...

Stanley to score the carpet where needed, scissors to cut it and chisle to press it to the edges cleanly...

But won't look as professional as a professional job lol...

Answer 7

turn the edge over approx. two inches 50mm. all around . gripper down and it's easy . don't need a stretcher just jump on it and hence slide it into the edge . ( jump and push with feet , towards the wall ) if you have to buy that equipment you might as well get a fitter . Edit Don't put the nails of the gripper through the floor into a water pipe !!!!!! or gas !!!!!