How to Lay Carpet on a Floor

While it may look like a difficult task to lay carpet, with the proper tools, it's not all that hard. To have a successful carpet installation, the subfloor needs to be level. This is usually not an issue with wood subfloors. If you are going to install carpet over concrete that has cracks or is uneven, you may need to pour a self-leveling topcoat over the concrete to provide the even base you need to lay carpet.

• 1

  Vacuum the subfloor. Use a hammer and a nailset to countersink any nails sticking up out of the wooden subfloor.

• 2

  Measure 1/8 inch away from the wall. Set the tackless strip along this line. Attach the tackless strip to the subfloor with masonry nails. Ensure that the pins on the tackless strip point toward the wall. Use a utility knife to cut pieces of tackless strip to fit as necessary. Do not install strip in front of a door.

• 3

  Unroll the carpet padding so that the waffle weave is facing up. Place the carpet padding so that it comes to the edge of the tackless strip but does not come over the top of it. Overlap edges of carpet padding, and then cut through both thicknesses with a utility knife to create a smooth butt joint. Duct tape joints together.

• 4

  Measure the room. Figure out which way you want the nap, or pile, of the carpet to run. Cut the carpet to fit into the room. Ensure that the carpet nap runs the same way on all pieces. Allow four to six inches extra on all sides. If the carpet has a pattern and you have to match seams, allow enough extra for the pattern repeat.

• 5

  Turn one piece of carpet over if you need to make seams. Use a chalk line to create a straight edge about 2 inches from the edge. Cut that edge with a utility knife, making sure to keep the line straight.

• 6

  Lay the adjoining piece of carpet on the floor with the straight, cut edge over the top of it. Use the straight edge of the first piece to cut a straight edge on the second piece of carpet. When you finish, the two pieces should butt together.

• 7

  Cut seaming tape the length of the seam. Heat the seaming iron. Run the seaming iron over the seaming tape to heat it and melt the glue. Put the edges of both pieces of carpet down the length of the seaming tape. Once you have the seaming tape in position, use a rolling pin to help ensure a good bond between the carpet pieces and the seaming tape.

• 8

  Place the knee kicker so that the teeth are about 1 inch away from the wall of one of the corners. Push your knee against the cushioned end of the knee kicker to hook the carpet on the tackless strip.

• 9

  Set the bottom of the power stretcher 6 inches away from the wall of the opposite corner. Put a piece of scrap carpet under top of the stretcher to protect the wall. Press the teeth of the stretcher into the carpet and lock it into position. Stretch the carpet and hook it firmly in the tackless strips.

• 10

  Use the knee kicker to set the teeth in the third corner. Reset the power stretcher to do the opposite corner. Once you finish the corners, use the knee kicker and power stretcher on opposing walls.

• 11

  Cut excess carpet away from the edge of the room. Use a stair tool to tuck the carpet under the baseboard. Put a gripper edge across the door's threshold to hold the carpeting in place there. Secure the edge with screws.