How to lay carpet correctly

Carpet is a fairly popular and widespread material among types of flooring. In appearance it resembles a regular carpet, but is easier to care for. You can install carpet yourself using one of several simple methods.

Ways to properly install carpet

The service life of a material depends not only on its quality. The chosen installation option is also of great importance.

Existing methods:

1. Double-sided tape. It is one of the simplest options. It allows you to secure the coating with minimal investment of money and time.
2. Glue. Suitable for concrete or wood floors. For work, a special solution is used, on which the carpet is applied.
3. Stretching. It is one of the most difficult methods. To carry out the installation procedure, special equipment will be required. For fastening, gripper slats are used, installed around the perimeter of the room. The floor covering is attached to them.

REFERENCE! Many users attach carpet directly under the baseboards. This method is one of the most ineffective, since the material cannot be exposed to strong furniture or laid in rooms with high traffic. The advantage is the possibility of quick dismantling.

What to lay as a substrate

When laying any floor covering, it requires a special underlay. Carpet in this case is no exception. Any material is suitable as a substrate. Experts recommend choosing elastic and flexible textures. The best choice would be synthetic felt or a rubber layer. Polyurethane foam is also suitable.

ATTENTION! When laying on concrete floors, an additional layer is required. Wood retains heat better, so in this case the presence of a substrate can be abandoned.

Preparation for installation

An important stage in repair work is the preparatory process. The laying base must be clean and dry. A prerequisite is a flat floor surface.

If there are dents or bumps, the surface must be leveled. For concrete floors, a special leveling mixture is suitable. The wooden base can be upholstered with plywood sheets or chipboard. When leveling a wooden floor, special attention should be paid to nails. They must be driven into the leveling coating as much as possible so that the caps do not stick out. Otherwise, damage may occur on the reverse side of the coating.

REFERENCE! If there are skirting boards in the room, they should be completely removed.

Treatment with antiseptic and water-repellent agents is mandatory. This will help avoid the appearance of excess moisture, mildew or mold. Special solutions that can be purchased at a building materials store are suitable for the job.

If you plan to lay carpet using adhesive or tape, the floor must be primed. This item is not mandatory, but the presence of a primer improves adherence to the floor and significantly increases the service life of the carpet.

ATTENTION! To remove small protrusions or cracks, sanding over the entire surface is suitable. In this case, a concrete leveling mixture is not needed.

How to lay carpet with your own hands

After preparing the necessary tools and the floor itself, you can begin to work. The day before installation, it is recommended to carefully lay out the carpet and leave it to completely straighten. This will help avoid bends, dents and breaks on the surface of the coating.

When laying, the material must be placed slightly overlapping the walls. The coating itself should be carefully distributed over the surface so that after installation there are no bumps and the carpet fits snugly to the floor. A special breadboard knife is suitable for cutting. The material is cut strictly at the junction of the floor and the base of the wall. If two or more sheets are laid, the material must be overlapped. This will help form the correct joints.

When fastened with tape, installation is carried out in two stages. The carpet folds in half, freeing up part of the room. Pieces of adhesive tape are glued to the freed perimeter, and the protective film is removed. Starting from the center, the carpet is attached to the material. A similar procedure is carried out on the other side.

When choosing glue, similar steps are carried out. Part of the room area is cleared of coverage. The glue is applied using a notched trowel. After treatment, the composition should be left for about 5–10 minutes. After laying on the adhesive surface, the carpet must be carefully smoothed.

Skirting boards should be installed at the junction of walls and floor. They will hide the corners of the flooring and help with additional fixation.After a few simple steps, the job of installing carpet yourself is over.

Carpet as an additional floor covering helps make a room more comfortable and also provides an additional thermal effect. Features of the canvas are easier care and simple installation steps. Several recommendations will help you carry out the installation of the material yourself.