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No matter what the job, things
go more smoothly with the right tools. Carpet laying is no exception.
You probably have some of the basic tools: a utility knife, tape
measure, hacksaw, straightedge, chalk line, and awl.
If you plan to stretch the carpeting,
you'll need to rent several other items. (With integral-pad carpeting,
you can get by without all the rented gear.) Strip cutters
make quick work of cutting tackless strip, which fits around
the perimeter of a room. A staple hammer fastens padding
to wood floors.
(Use pad adhesive if the floor
is concrete.) Join pieces of carpeting using seam tape and
a seaming iron. A knee kicker and a power stretcher
help you pull the carpeting taut. A carpet trimmer
cuts neatly along walls.
Laying Tufted or Jute-Back Carpeting
Integral-pad carpeting is bonded to its own cushioned backing,
thus eliminating the need to use a carpet pad. It's ideal for
applying directly on concrete floors. In small spaces, such as
baths and closets, you can cut the carpeting to fit and lay it
without carpet tape. Edges have a tendency to curl in time, however,
so it's best to anchor big pieces with double-faced tape. Clean
the floor well before you begin because tape won't adhere properly
to a dirty surface.
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1.
Install tackless strip. Tackless strip creates a framework
over which carpeting is stretched and held in position. When
laying out the strip, make sure the pins face the adjacent wall
or opening. Position 1/2 inch from the wall and nail in place
(see Illustration 1). For concrete floors, use adhesive.
2.
Install padding. Lay the carpet padding within the framework
and cut it to size with a utility knife. Make sure the side with
the slick membrane faces up and that the padding does not overlap
the tackless strip (see Illustration 2). Nail or staple the padding
in place, paying special attention to seam lines and edges. If
the floor is concrete, roll back one section of padding at a
time and spread pad adhesive. Lay the padding back in place.
3. To abut a floor covering other
than carpeting: Nail a metal threshold strip with gripper
pins to the floor (see Illustration 3). Use a metal threshold
and hammer the lip flat using a protective board.
4. To finish off where one carpet section adjoins
another, seam the two carpet pieces together. Trim the carpet
edges straight and butt them carefully. Fold back both and lay
heat-seating tape along the floor where the seam will fall. Move
the heated iron slowly along the tape. (See Illustration 4.)
As the adhesive melts, press the edges of the carpeting into
it with your other hand. Weight down the seam for a few minutes
after joining the carpeting.