Carpet Installation

Removing old carpet is pretty easy, and doesn’t take a long time. It is probably the easiest part of the job. Use the below steps to help you move along quickly.

To take up old carpet cut the carpet into long pieces, about 3 feet wide. This can easily be done with a carpet knife. Once you have made your cuts, place your hook knife into a corner near the wall with the tip facing down, and pierce the carpet with the tip and gently rock the knife away from you and pull backwards. The carpet should release from the corner fairly easily. It also could take a few tugs to get it out, so don’t get discouraged if it doesn’t come right up. When it does loosen, grip the edge firmly and pull up and towards you.

Once you have this down and you have removed the carpet from the edges, roll up the sections and carry out to a waiting trash can, or dumpster.

When removing carpet from steps, follow the above steps, but always start at the top and work your way down.

To take up old pad, you can do the same as you did for the carpet, cutting it into manageable pieces with your carpet knife. You should be able to then grip the corner, and pull back. While pulling back you can release the staples holding it down by sliding a hook knife sideways along the floor.

Roll up these pieces and dispose. Disposal can be done on-site or you can load your truck to take the scraps to the dump.

For removing glued carpet you can follow the same instructions. In addition to the above tools, you can use a scraper to help release the adhesive.

There are some things that need to be done prior to carpet installation. Preparation for carpet installation involves heating installation area, moving any furniture or objects, taking up any old carpet, and floor preparation. Proper preparation will produce a better quality installation.

The area where carpet is being installed needs to be as hot as possible. Turning up the furnace the night before will be enough. If no heating system is in place, space heaters should be used. The carpet to be installed should also be exposed to that heat. This allows the carpet to stretch better when installing, preventing buckles from forming later.

All furniture and objects should be removed before installation. A lot of household can be moved with two people. Others will require a dolly or several people. Pool tables and solid wood entertainment centers have been the most challenging in my experience. The plastic pads that are put under the corners of a piece of furniture to help it slide are sometimes helpful.

In addition, old carpet and padding will need to be removed. Please check out “How to Remove Old Carpet” to get instructions on doing this easily and efficiently.

In some jobs, floor preparation must be done as well. This is minimal, and most jobs site will not require this step, but it is necessary for a good result in some jobs. Floor preparation usually involves sweeping and or shop vacuuming, leveling the floor, and in some cases tightening the sub floor with a few screws. Most major repairs fall under carpentry and are not done by the majority of installers.

The floor should also be swept and if needed a shop vacuum can be used to get large debris. When the floor is cracked or has small sharp drop-offs, a floor leveler is often the best solution. DAP Web patch 90 or similar floor leveling compound should be used. To level the floor here are a few simple instructions to ensure a flawless leveling job.

Near the area to be repaired, pour a pile of the powdered patch onto the floor. Using a flat trowel or float, indent the peak of the pile. The pile should resemble a science fair volcano project. Pour water from a container into the center of the pile while knocking down powder from the edge into the water. Keep mixing and adding water until you have a thin paste. Hold the trowel or float in your hand with your wrist tilted forward. Spread some paste over the uneven area. Place the long edge of the trowel on the higher part of the floor, keeping the trowel at around a 45 degree angle. Lightly drag the trowel lightly across the damaged area to where the floor is good. Rotate your wrist moving the trowel back around and across, slightly overlapping the last stroke. Continue applying less and less pressure until floor is smooth. Repeat again as needed and then let dry.

In addition to leveling the floor you may also have to repair any squeaks you might hear when you walk throughout the room. When this situation does occur you can easily place a few screws to keep the squeaking at bay. To stop a squeaking floor, first walk around the room and note any squeakiness. When you hear a squeak put a screw where you were stepping, this should stop the squeaking, if it does not add an addition screw. The screws should follow the same pattern as the nails in the sub floor. After you feel you have finished try to do one last round before installation.

Good preparation is important prior to the start of installation. Carpet needs to be as warm as possible to ensure proper stretching; cold carpet will buckle later when the temperature gets hotter. Most imperfections on the floor will show through the carpet after installation. Proper preparation will make the carpet look and feel better as well as extending is life and preventing the need for repairs.

Delivery of materials and labor to and moving materials around the job site are important steps in any construction job.  The delivery and transportation phases include delivery and handling of materials, as well as transportation of supplies and employees to site.  Carpet will be delivered to the job site or will require pick-up based on the vendor.  Materials commonly delivered to site include carpet, padding, glue, tack strip, metal trim, transition strips and nosing for steps.   Without all of the necessary materials, the job can not be completed.  Having a well planned and properly scheduled installation is also essential.  Making sure that all supplies, materials, and labor required to get started are on site at the start of the job will prevent down time and the resulting loss of money.

Some carpet retailers will deliver the materials to the site, but this usually involves a fee.  When arranging a delivery the steps that need to be completed are, paying for any delivery fees, verifying the delivery address and time of the delivery with the vendor, making sure that there is adequate clean and dry space to store the materials on site, plan for moving of  materials on site, and inspecting delivered products.  Deliver fees are paid to the vendor who then arranges the delivery.  Payments are most often by check or credit card and due before shipment.  Verification of delivery address and times are usually done at the same time as the payments.  A space should be cleared, cleaned, and available at the time the materials are delivered.  Labor and tools to help unload materials should be available if needed.  Laborers and a carpet dolly or tow lift should be available to move materials on-site.  All delivered materials should be inspected by the homeowner or contractor for defects and to ensure that the correct materials were delivered.  Following these few simple steps can save a lot of time, money and trouble.

The main things to concern yourself with when picking up carpet are the vehicle, loading, and unloading and scheduling of pickup, delivery and labor.  A box truck, van, pick-up truck, enclosed trailer, open trailer, or dump truck are all ways to get the carpet to the job.   I would recommend a diesel 16 foot box truck with an above-cab storage area.  Along with protection from the elements, this will allow room for carpet, pad, tools, supplies, and employees.  The other option that I would recommend is an extended passenger or cargo van.  Diesel is also recommended here for fuel economy.  A van has limited storage compared to a box truck, but is more fuel efficient.  A pick-up truck with an extended bed or a dump truck can be used to transport carpet and other materials. An enclosed trailer or open trailer with a tarp can also be used.  All of the above vehicles are available for rent in most areas.

Tow straps, a carpet dolly, and if available a forklift with a carpet pole can be used for handling of materials.  Loading of the carpet and large quantities of glue onto the truck is usually done by the vendor, with the pad and small items carried by the vendee.  When unloading carpet on-site, it should be onto a carpet cart if it is to be cut somewhere else on-site.  Most rolls of carpet can be unloaded by one person pushing or pulling the roll out until they can put their shoulder under it and pulling off quickly.  When doing this, make sure you move out from under the carpet before the back end comes off of the vehicle.  For larger rolls a person may pull or push from inside or on the vehicle, while one or two people pull from the other side.  When two people are pulling they should lock arms under the carpet and pull as the person in the truck pushes. And to prevent injury, letting go before the back end of the roll hits the ground.  For the largest of rolls, the carpet can be pulled off with tow straps using another vehicle or unloaded with a lift.  Carpet can then be carried by hand, pushed on a dolly, or moved around with a lift.

It is important to ensure proper scheduling for delivery, pick-ups and labor force.  If a situation occurs where you have hourly laborers on the job and no materials, it is required by law that you pay those employees for their time.  In the construction business most delays become very costly.   Whenever possible materials should be picked up in advance.  Employees can either meet at a gathering point and travel to the site together or find their own way depending on the job.  Dependable and skillful workers are needed to successfully complete a carpet installation job.  Scheduling is key in determining the outcome of a job.  Its like the old adage says, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of protection”.

Getting the materials and labor to the site is essential.  Although difficulties will sometimes arise, good planning will help prevent a lot of common problems.  It is necessary to have the materials, supplies and labor there when you need them for the work to begin and end on time.   Good employees and properly executed logistics of delivery and transportation will save time, money and aggravation on any job.