Hardwood floors are beautiful and with modern stains and varnishes, they require little maintenance other than sweeping, then mopping with a damp microfiber cloth. However, hardwood floors have some disadvantages. They’re not soft and warm, and they don’t absorb noise like carpeting. If you have hardwood floors that you want to change, or if they’re in bad shape, you can cover them with carpeting without damaging the hardwood.

Installing carpet isn’t terribly complicated, but it does require special tools and a lot of elbow grease. It’s usually best to have professionals install your carpet, but if you want to give it a shot, here are the steps you’ll need to follow.

Preparation

Before you can start with the installation, remove any doors in the area. Pull up baseboards or quarter-round moldings and set them aside to reinstall after the carpet is done. Sweet or vacuum the floor thoroughly. If any dirt is left under the carpet, it can scratch the finish on the hardwood and will be noticeable when you walk on the carpet.

Tack Strips

Tack strips will hold the edges of the carpet in place. They should be nailed in place all around the perimeter of the room, except for doorways. Make sure to place them in the right direction, with the tacks pointed toward the walls.

Padding

Roll out the padding and butt it against the tack strips. If you have any seams, seal them with duct tape.

Measure and Cut the Carpet

Carefully measure the room, then cut the carpet to approximately 6” larger all around to allow for trimming.

Lay it Out

Lay the carpet on the floor and smooth it toward the walls. Start hooking the edges into the pins on the tack strips

Stretch and Trim

Using a carpet kicker or power stretcher to thoroughly stretch and fit the carpet. Then use a trimmer to remove any excess carpet.

Replace Baseboards

To give your job a more finished look, replace the baseboards or quarter-round moldings that you removed at the start.

Professional Installation

If you have time, energy, and strong DIY skills, you can certainly install your own carpet. However, it’s a lot of hard work, requires special tools and training, and you will likely be better served by having a professional carpet installation team do the job for you.

Floor Advisor is the flooring installation expert you can trust for high-quality flooring. We are a family-owned and operated business and have been serving the Leesburg, Lansdowne, Ashburn, Broadlands, Sterling, and Loudon County areas for over 20 years. We have a strong commitment to providing you with the best possible customer service, from your initial consultation to the completion of your installation and beyond. Whatever your flooring needs, our highly trained professionals will work with you to guarantee your complete satisfaction. For more information about the products and services we offer, visit our website, or give us a call at one of our three locations:

Alexandria: 703-658-5353 5710 D General Washington Dr
Gainesville: 571-222-6810 5615 Wellington Rd, Suite 11
Leesburg: 571-919-4010 19304 Promenade Dr