DON’T BE FLOORED: DIY VS PROFESSIONAL CARPET INSTALLATION
While there is no denying that hardware tiles are ideal for certain projects, carpets too add several significant benefits to homes and offices. They bring a warm and soothing intimacy value, gifting your feet with the luxurious and comforting feel of soft cushioned flooring.
Installing carpet does require some careful planning. While carpet installation can be a DIY project to eliminate the expenses of external labour, it is also a large undertaking that requires accurate measurements, moderate amount of strength and determination. Many novice who have experienced the headache of installing the carpets themselves are unlikely to go through the ordeal again. Hence, in reality, it is a lot easier to pay a professional to install the carpet for you.
Whether you are contemplating to take up the challenge or against DIY installation, we provide an insight of what a professional job can offer. From hauling the furniture out, disposal of existing flooring, laying the padding and tack strips to installing the new carpet – all within few hours.
1. Match the carpet design with your interiors
Before we dive into the installation process, it is crucial to choose the right material and textile for your carpet. A good-quality carpet takes a floor from workable to homely, which instantly transforms the overall look of your abode.
Colour communicates. It tells others about you. With the minefield of unlimited designs, an interior designer can help narrow down and source for the perfect carpeting that suits your lifestyle and personality. While a subtle neutral blend in a similar shade to that on the walls helps blur the lines between the surfaces, opting for a delectable bright colour takes on the role of a focal statement of high contrast, yet preserving ‘harmony’ within the space.
2. Onsite measurement
Space planning begins with taking measurements, which is a key element of the job. Its pretty straight forward when you are working with a square or rectangular room. However, when dealing with an irregular layout. there is a bit more to it. Noting down the size and placement of architectural impediments, curves, corners and fittings, accurate measurements lead to practical, functional and efficient design. This step is pivotal as it determines the product amounts needed for flooring, establishing the cost of the material and installation.
3. Floor preparation & Thorough cleaning
Now is a good time to prepare the existing flooring to receive the new carpet, ensuring the floor is clean to avoid any contaminants build-up. Every surface should be clean, levelled, free of existing adhesive and moulds for new flooring to stay bonded. Often, installers will advise to remove existing floorings or carpeting to inspect the subfloor and address any issues before the new carpet is installed.
Note: The labour cost should include temporary removing all the furniture from the room, taking down any doors that open into the room, safe disposal of old materials, resolving all imperfections of subflooring and thorough cleaning debris in the area.
4. Laying the track strips and underpad
Nailed around the perimeter of the room, tack strips are strips of wood with angled pins that catch the back of the carpet to hold it in place. It is important that there is an allowance of 0.25 – 0.5 inches from the wall to tuck the edges of the carpet over the strips. In the event, there is existing carpeting, installers will examine the tack strips around the room and may choose to reuse them, if in good condition.
The new carpet padding sheets are then cut to fit within the inner edge of the strips
and attached to the subfloor with staples or padding glue. The seams are matched up evenly to prevent hills and valleys on the floor and secured with duct tape. To achieve the flawless look, carpet experts rely on special tools, such as carpet knives to cut perfectly straight edges and heated carpet irons that bond the adjacent pieces together.
5. Rolling out the new carpet
Start from one corner of the room and unroll the carpet, covering the entire floor. Ideally, the carpet should overlap a few inches against each wall. The carpet is cut with utmost precision, lining up carpet edges as needed and securing the seam into place with seaming tape. To ensure the seams are sealed correctly, professionals are equipped with a seaming iron and a carpet roller.
6. Stretching and attaching the carpet
Cutting isn’t the only tricky part of carpet installation. With minimal force, the carpet must be stretched into corners using a knee kicker and carpet stretcher to fasten to the tackles strips along each wall, without leaving wrinkles or bulges. Once the carpet is taut across the room, a carpet trimming tool is run along the edge to cut away the excess carpet in a smooth even line. The edges are then wedged under the baseboard with a carpet chisel.
7. Finishing touches
After your new carpet is professionally installed, all your furniture will be restored back into place and wirings that were detached will be properly reconnected.
The real last step is for you to admire your new carpet.
Find Your Magic Carpet!
Right off the bat, a major upper hand of installing your own carpet is the potential savings. However, unless you have the confidence to see this project through with a job well done, don’t leave it to chance.
Professional installation by an experienced crew is now so inexpensive and quick, it is hard to justify doing it yourself. Adeptly specified and installed, a good quality carpet goes a long way, injecting a little magic into your interior.
Worried about hiring a company only to find out later they have done a poor job?
Don’t sweat it! We’ve got you covered.
Allow yourself to live happily ever after by choosing the right carpet and best people. From fable to reality: Let the wish take you away. Not by magic, but by Roxwell.