How to lay carpet on a wooden floor

Carpet is a functional, versatile, and very easy-to-install floor covering that you can do yourself. In order for it to last for quite a long time, the floor covering must be correctly selected and laid.

How to prepare a wooden floor for carpet installation

Before you begin installing the flooring material, you need to prepare the base. Wood floors often have disadvantages such as creaking boards, gaps or an uneven surface. If they are not eliminated, then after installation the material may tear after some time. The easiest way to get rid of existing defects is to lay sheets of plywood or OSB on the floor.

ATTENTION! If plywood is chosen to level the floor, then you need to take a waterproof option.

If this is not possible, you need to do the following:

• all rotten boards must be replaced with new ones;
• loose floorboards must be carefully fixed using nails or self-tapping screws, the heads of the fastening elements must be recessed into the boards, otherwise they will tear the carpet;
• all gaps must be tightly filled with mastic;
• Any oil or grease stains on the floor must be degreased.

ATTENTION! The gap between the walls and the boards that border them does not need to be sealed. It will ensure that the carpet “walks” along with the floor and will not allow it to deform.

Do I need underlay for carpet on a wooden floor?

If the wooden surface is smooth, has no defects and is warm, then you don’t need to put a backing. The underlay is required to make the floor level and insulate it.

ATTENTION! When laying flooring on a heated floor system, no underlay is required!

There are several options for the substrate, so when choosing the right one you need to take into account several nuances:

1. Some of them are made from polymer materials. They stick very poorly to the floor surface.
2. The product is laid on the substrate using the stretching method. This is a rather complicated installation method.
3. The optimal material for the substrate is balsa wood. This is a natural material that provides additional warmth and sound insulation, and also adheres well.

IMPORTANT! Installation of the material must be done so that no air bubbles or unevenness are formed.

Methods for laying carpet

The following methods are suitable for installing flooring:

• free - the carpet is fixed using skirting boards;
• using tape;
• on glue;
• the stretching method is a complex installation method and is used by professionals to install carpet in office premises.

The choice of method depends on the area of ​​the room:

• less than 12 m2 - with double-sided tape;
• from 12 to 20 m2 - free method or with tape;
• more than 20m2 - with glue.

ATTENTION! Whatever option is chosen, the carpet must rest before installation. It needs to be straightened and left for a couple of days.

Glue mounting

This is the most popular method of installing carpet. For this, PVA glue or bustylate is used. There are also special adhesives.

Installation steps:

1. The material must be laid out on the floor, throwing one half over the other.
2. An adhesive composition is applied to the half free from the floor covering. To make the fixation more reliable, it is advisable to apply glue to the entire surface. Then leave the composition for about 20–30 minutes.
3. The carpet fabric is carefully laid on the glue. You need to carefully press and straighten the material so that wrinkles do not appear; you can use a roller for this.
4. The entire procedure is repeated with the other half of the floor covering.

Laying with tape

In order for the product to be securely fixed, the width of the tape must be at least 5 cm. A narrower version may tear.

Installation steps:

1. First you need to stick tape around the perimeter of the room.
2. Next, it is glued in the form of a grid with a pitch of 0.5 m. For a more reliable fixation, you can paste over the entire surface of the floor.
3. Then the carpet is glued to the tape.

Stretching

For this method, special fastening elements are used - grippers.

Progress:

• grippers are placed around the perimeter of the room;
• further, the substrate is installed on them;
• the floor covering is stretched using special equipment.

The technique is quite complex and requires special tools and good skills. Therefore, it should be performed by professionals.

Free way

The simplest method, which is ideal for rooms with a small area.

Installation steps:

• Before installation, you need to treat the baseboards with an antiseptic composition - this will prevent fungus or mold from forming on them;
• the floor surface is cleaned of dirt and dust;
• the floor covering must be laid out on the floor;
• use a roller to smooth the carpet;
• if there is excess, it must be trimmed;
• the material is fixed with skirting boards, and in the doorway with a threshold.

How to properly lay carpet on wood

In order for the installation to be carried out correctly, and for the carpet to please you for a long time, you need to follow several rules:

1. Installation can begin only after high-quality preparation of the floor.
2. If it is not possible to level the floor using OSB or plywood, then you should use a thick underlay.
3. When removing excess material, you need to leave gaps between the carpet and the wall.
4. The direction of the pile of the product should be in one direction.
5. Do not forget that after purchasing the product, it must be allowed to rest in a straightened state. This way you can avoid the appearance of waves during installation.

Preparing and installing carpet yourself is quite simple. If you know the installation technique and follow the recommendations, the coating will last for many years.