DIY Network

Lackluster Living Room: Installing the Carpet Lackluster Living Room: Installing the Carpet From "DIY to the Rescue" episode DTTR-407F

The final project to complete this living room makeover is to install the carpeting over the existing hardwood floor.

Materials:

Saw
Tackless strip
Masonry nails
Hammer
Carpet padding
Heavy scissors
Utility knife
Staple gun
Duct tape
Chalk line
Carpet
Row cutter
Seaming tape
Seaming iron
Rolling pin
Knee kicker
Power stretcher
Trimmer
Stair tool

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	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C

1. To install the tackless strips, use a saw or shears to cut the length needed to fit each wall.

   Safety Note: always wear heavy work gloves when handling tackless strips.

2. Nail the strips around the perimeter of the room using masonry nails (figure A), leaving a space between the tackless strip and the wall that equals 2/3 of the thickness of the carpet.

   Note: make sure the tackless strips join together at the corners and the pointed pins in each strip are facing the wall.

3. Cut the carpet padding in strips long enough to fit the length of the room (figure B). Make sure the padding is long enough to cover the tackless strips on all the walls.

4. Lay out your padding waffle side up, then staple it along its edge every six inches.

5. The padding should not overlap and should form a clean seam.

6. Next, cover the seams with duct tape.

7. Measure your rooms length and width, then cut the carpet four to six inches longer than the rooms dimensions.

8. Use a utility knife to cut the carpet from the backside. Overlap each piece of carpet at the edges to allow for trimming.

   Note: make sure when cutting and laying the carpet, that its pile is facing the same direction.

9. Overlap the edges of the carpet leaving about two inches of excess carpet at the wall.

10. To join the seams, use seaming tape. Use a seaming iron to melt the adhesive by slowly pulling the iron down the tape.

11. Once the adhesive is melted, immediately press the carpet edges together over the tape.

12. Then, roll over the seam with a rolling pin.

13. Use the knee kicker to hook the carpet to the tackless strip in one corner (figure C). Then, use a power stretcher to stretch the carpet to the opposite wall. Repeat this step for each corner.

14. Adjust the wall trimmer to the carpet thickness and trim the excess carpet at each wall.

15. Use a stair tool to push the edges of the carpet between the wall and the tackless strips.

16. Finally, trim the carpet at the doorway, centering the end of the carpet under the shut door. Install a gripper edge or nail in a metal strip to hold the carpet in place.