Preparing a Floor for Carpet Installation

Why Prepare A Floor for Carpet Installation?

The way you prepare your floor for carpet installation is dependent on the type of carpet which you are installing. If you have a cheaper foam backed carpet it is laid on the bare floor often with a layer of paper over the floor to prevent the backing sticking to the floor. This type of carpet is cut to shape and fixed in place using double sided carpet tape.

Backed VS Unbacked Carpet Installation

Unbacked carpets are installed over a separate layer of carpet padding or underlay made of felt or rubber. The carpet is stretched over the padding and then fixed to gripper rods which are nailed along the edges of the floor.

Carpet Installation On Unlevel Floors

Before you can install carpet you need to make sure that your floor is in good condition otherwise it will spoil the look of your carpet. Floors need to be level above all to give a smooth look to the carpet. With thick carpet and padding any minor imperfections will be masked but anything major like creaky floorboards or a sloping floor need to be sorted out first.

Carpet Installation On Wooden Floors

If you have wooden floorboards check that they are secure and that they are clean and dry and free of any kind of woodworm, rot or protruding nails, all of which might damage the new carpet. If the wooden floor is in very poor condition you can cover it with a layer of plywood or hardboard to create a smooth new surface on which to install your carpet.

Carpet Installation On Solid Floors

If you have a solid floor then it needs to be free of hollows and lumps and be flat rather than sloping. If you need to level the floor you can do this fairly easily on a solid floor by using leveling compound which you smooth onto the floor like thin concrete and then allow it to settle.

Before trying to install carpet always remove any furniture from the room so that you can easily roll the carpet out. When you follow the above steps you lay the foundation for trouble free carpet installation!

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