Q&A for How to Install Carpet

You can, but it will be very difficult to get the carpet taut and properly fitted to the floor. Your finished carpet may have bumps, bulges, and wrinkles. To install the carpet without a stretcher or knee kicker, put on some shoes with good treads and stretch the carpet toward the walls by jumping on it and driving forward with your feet.

You’ll need quite a few specialty tools, including a tack strip cutter, carpet knife, power stretcher, knee kicker, and stair tool. The job also requires some more common tools, such as a hammer, measuring tape, hand stapler, and various cutting tools. You’ll also need your carpet, some tape, and tackless strips.

You can, but it can be difficult if you don’t have a lot of experience with this sort of work. You’ll also need specialized tools, such as a stretcher and knee kicker.

No, but if you don't remove them, the chance of them being nicked or damaged is very high.

That's not what's normally done and would not be considered a quality job. If you don't care, and are just doing it for yourself (as opposed to potential future residents), you can do it. Keep in mind that it will be harder to attach the new carpet with old carpet underneath, the surface of the carpet may not be as smooth, and you may trap dirt and mold between the two carpets, among other potential problems.

When given time to completely cool, seam tape has a very strong bond and should hold just fine if you do the following: 1. Pull the carpet away from the tack strip on the opposing wall. 2. Tuck the carpet closest to the seam first and then stretch and tuck the other side. This will take advantage of the "give", or elasticity, of the carpet to reduce the amount of stress on the seamed area.

That's not usually done. Typically when there is a ruined piece of carpet, the most common procedure is to do a patch (AKA a cut and plug). This is usually done by cutting out the piece of carpet that is damaged in either a round or square shape and cutting out an identically shaped piece from a closet or extra piece of carpet and swapping them. However, this is not an easy process if you have never done it. For small, round patches, there's a tool called a cookie cutter -- it's about 3-4 inches in diameter. The backing must meet up perfectly or the patch will look horrible.

Transition strips are not necessary. You can tuck the carpet right to your hardwood floor. Transition strips would make it look better, however.

With a utility knife, cut sections around the wall to pull up. Cut into smaller pieces for disposal.

I don't see why not as long as it is completely cured before laying the carpet, but I don't know that it would serve any purpose.

Three points here: First, most, carpet warranties require carpet cushion--otherwise, the warranty is void. Second, underlay (also referred to as cushion) ensures that your carpet will hold up over time, as it reduces the amount of abuse that the carpet endures when people walk on it. Finally, carpet should be stretched with the cushion firmly in place below. Eliminating cushion compromises the system and makes it likely that the stretch would fail immediately or at some point in the future.

Yes, it will hold the carpet down better. However, you should be careful if the carpet is too thin.

Yes. you have to install carpet padding cushion under the carpet, unless it is a commercial carpet for a business property then you can install with glue and no padding.

Anytime you are installing carpet to a wall or type of hard surface, you want to use tackstrip to keep the carpet from pulling away and leaving a gap.

Take a hammer and lightly hit the nails down where this is happening. Usually, this happens at doorways or where the carpet and another flooring (tile, hardwood) meet.

No, its actually easier without baseboard. You just go wall to wall and tuck it to the drywall. If you install the baseboard first, make sure to leave the baseboard .25" - .5" off the ground for the carpet to tuck under.

Yes, but consider that any deviation in the tiled surface will become more prominent over time. Using latex on the tiled surface may help to even it out.

The easiest way to fix tacks that you feel coming up through the carpet is to hammer them down. Doing this will bend the nails that are sticking out. And this will not damage the carpet.