How To Lay Carpet On Concrete

April 21, 2023 | Posted in brownbuilding

In general, concrete floors tend to feel cold and unappealing. But laying carpet can help make your living space more attractive, comfortable, and industrial. 

Laying the carpet isn’t a difficult task. You’ll only need the right tools and the right carpet before getting started. This guide from Brown Building Contractors’ experts in remodel design service explains how to lay carpet properly. 

how to lay carpet on concrete

Tools Needed to Install Carpet 

To lay carpet, you should start by gathering the necessary tools:

  • Safety gear 
  • Vacuum 
  • Carpet stretcher 
  • Carpet blades 
  • Hammer and nails 
  • Tucker 
  • Carpet trimmer 
  • Carpet rolls and pads 
  • Tackless strips
  • Tape measure

The tools needed will vary depending on the job. Do diligent research on each tool before purchasing. 

How to Install Carpet

If you want to know how to lay the carpet yourself, follow these steps.

Measure the Room

It’s important to get room measurements before learning how to lay carpet tiles and other carpet materials. You’ll need a pencil, measuring tape, and a place to record measurements. 

Measure the length and width of the room, then multiply these numbers to get the total square footage. This will tell you how much carpet you need to purchase. It might help to add a little bit extra to your square footage to account for any potential errors. 

Install Padding and Tack Strip 

You will need to know how to lay carpet padding as well. Make sure you buy the appropriate thickness of carpet padding for your carpet type. Carpet padding protects your carpet and increases comfort. Tack strips hold your carpet in place and are also useful when you lay carpet over the carpet.

Use a hammer to nail down the tack strip to your subfloor, making sure to angle the nails toward the wall. After installing the tack strip, cut your padding to fit the room and lay it across the subfloor, leaving a one-inch gap between the wall and the padding. Then use a staple gun to secure the padding in place. 

Place and Trim the Carpet 

Leave a few inches of excess on all sides while you are positioning and placing your carpet. You can trim any excess carpet with a utility knife. This is also helpful if you want to know how to lay carpet squares; you need to trim squares so they fit within the dimensions of the room.

Stretch the Carpet 

To stretch the carpet, you can use a knee kicker or power stretcher. Knee kickers are useful for smaller rooms and spaces. Knee kickers are also useful if you want to know how to lay carpet on stairs. 

Power stretchers, on the other hand, are best for large rooms and spaces. You should know the dimensions of your room to determine the proper tool. Use your tool to stretch the carpet to the tack strips aligned against the wall. Repeat this process until you finish all the sides. 

Call the Experts to Install Your Carpet Perfectly

While learning how to lay carpet tiles on concrete by yourself is a very handy skill to have, it doesn’t hurt to get professional help. Get in touch with us at Brown Building Contractors for all of your carpet-laying needs.