When remodeling your home, hiring professionals for all of the many projects can quickly erode your budget. One way of reducing the carpet installation cost is to perform the work yourself, instead of hiring a contractor. Installing carpet, while not exactly easy for beginners, is certainly something that can be done if one takes the time to research the proper procedures and then follows them with care and patience.
Prior to beginning the installation, there are several initial steps to complete. First, you must have the proper equipment to install carpet. A common and costly mistake of amateurs is to try and make-do with tools that they already have. Lacking the necessary carpet tools is a good way to ruin your carpet and cause considerable expense, as well as waste your valuable time.
Requirements for a standard carpet installation include the following: measuring tape, carpet seam tape, carpet knife, tack strip cutter, knee kicker, trimmer, staple gun, power stretcher, nails, screws, and, of course, the carpet and carpet pad.
To prepare your carpet installation estimate to plug into your budget, it is crucial that a correct measurement of the room is taken. Measure it as accurately as possible, even measuring two or three times. Sketch the dimensions on paper, and try to outline how the carpet rolls will fit. Carpet rolls vary in size, so determine how to best cut the roll to fit the space. By doing this, you will minimize wasted. Carpet prices being what they are, this step alone can save you a significant amount of money.
Once the old carpet is removed, it is time to ready the floor for the new carpet installation. Repair any areas where odd noises are heard when stepped on and thoroughly clean the surface. Make sure the surface is dry prior to laying the padding, as moisture will damage its effectiveness and can lead to the development of a mold problem. Once you have installed the tack strips along the edges of the room, the floor is ready to go.
First install the pad. Start along one wall and extend it across the room. Be sure to overlap the tack strips two or three inches. Staple the padding every couple of feet, and ensure the surface is smooth, with no wrinkles or bunches.
Install the carpet similar to the padding installation. Nail the tack strips, and use a steam iron and carpet seam tape to merge any seams. Install the edge strips, and the carpet installation is complete.
For those who are still hesitant about tackling a project like this, there are numerous carpet installation videos and books available. Another option might be to install carpet tiles rather than wrestle with rolls of carpet. While not as plush as a good Berber carpet and probably not what you would want for your living room, tiles can be quite attractive in the right locations.
In the end, the decision has to be a personal one. The installation of your new carpeting will always come at a cost. It’s up to you whether that cost will be monetary or time and effort.
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