OK… in another thread, I asked what is better… pergo type laminates or carpet.
Seeing as many are saying carpet… can someone tell me about installing it.
I ripped up the carpet and padding, so I understand the basics.
However, what I’m questioning is the cutting.
Do you have to get the carpet pre cut at the store? If you just cut it on site, won’t it fray?
The cheapest way to learn about laying carpet is to google some articles. That’s how I learned.
As far as cutting the carpet, I use a carpet knife and a cushion back cutter. You will also need a knee kicker, a stair tool. and a stapler (hammer type)and of course a hammer. The stapler is for installing the pad. I use the knee kicker to stretch the carpet and I don’t have a carpet stretcher. The stair tool if to tuck the carpet along the wall (you strike the stair tool with a hammer). The cushion back cutter cuts the tucked (creased) carpet and the carpet knife cuts everything else. I’d also strongly suggest buying the LARGE box of bandaids. I haven’t done a job yet without at least a little blood dripping. You can get all this stuff at Lowes (or probably home depot).
I always have Lowes cut the carpet as close as possible to the room dimensions. If I’m doing two rooms, I have them cut two pieces. This is especially important if you work alone (carpet is heavy).
Lowes has carpet in 12 foot and 15 foot widths. I have not had to seam a carpet yet, but I am currently doing a house that will require it. I’m going to buy a seaming iron and give it a try. If the carpet guys can do it, I guess I can do it too.
Good Luck,
Mike
I had a out of town rental, a relative (sister’s son in law) says, “why spend money on a professional, it’s no big deal”, blah blah blab, to lay carpeting, so I said "why don’t you do it then, and I’ll pay you a few bucks.
After it was done, had my sister, working as my property manager, take a look, and she said the work was terrible. Capeting along one edge wasn’t cut straight, so there’s uneven space between the carpet and wall. The seams joining the carpeting looked awful.
We hired a professional to take it up, salvage as much as possible, and redo it. Unfortunately, it didn’t cover the entire apartment at that point, and we wound up doing the entry way, plus another 10 feet of hallway with pergo.
We paid more than twice or more what we had to spend had we gotten a professional to begin with.
Talking about saving money??
We used to “take up carpeting” ourselves and had professionals install it. One hot humid August, the wife and I went by with a friend to take off carpeting, and cut it up so sanitation will haul it away. Being “air conditioned” office workers by profession, we work ten minutes, rest ten minutes in the 100 degree August heat. taking over an hour to do each room. The project took most of the Saturday.
And we took our friend to dinner afterwards, costing us another $50.00/$60.00.
We asked the carpet store following time what it cost to take it off, and we were able to negotiate it into the cost of the installation. That includes cutting and rolling it up so sanitation will take it. We were able to get a day’s rest plus save the cost of a dinner.
I since found out when I try to save money, it always wind up costing me.
When cutting carpet, always use a sharp blade (you will need about 6-8 blades per room). you cut and tuck one end then go to the other. after you kick (with the knee kicker) some of the carpet towards the wall and you feel it is stretched enough, you roll back the carpet, cut it where it will lay right at the wall. Then you use the kicker again to stretch it a little more, then just tuck it behind the tack stripping. It will take a few rooms to get the hang of it.
When paying someone to lay carpet, you should pay around 2-4 dollars a square yard and no more.