Is there a DIY carpet installation project on your horizon? If so, you’ll most likely need to install carpet padding and tackless strips before installing the carpet. In my experience, it isn’t really that hard to install tackless strips and carpet padding. Here’s how to do it:
Buy Tackless Strips and Carpet Padding
The first thing that you’ll need to do is buy the tackless strips and carpet padding. When selecting tackless strips for your carpet padding’s installation, make sure that you buy the right ones. Not all tackless strips are the same. Some are designed for use on concrete floors whereas others are more appropriate for use on wood or vinyl. Based on my experience, tackless strips may be purchased through home improvement stores for less than $1 each. Prices for the carpet padding itself tend to vary greatly, so I’d suggest shopping around.
Install the Tackless Strips
Installing the tackless strips is a fairly simple affair. The two main things to concern yourself with are making sure that the strips are positioned ½ inch out from the walls’ edges and that the strips’ pins are facing the wall and not the center of the room. Once you have the tackless strips in place, simply nail them to the floor with a hammer and nails. Before proceeding with the carpet padding’s installation, I would recommend that at this point you examine the floor for uneven or damaged areas. If there are any, I’d suggest repairing them first. In my experience, carpet tends to install and look its best when placed over a level and damage-free area.
Continue by placing the carpet padding, shiny side up, onto the floor and cutting it down to size with a sharp utility knife. Remember, the carpet padding should butt up against the tackless strip but not overlap it. Once you’re done cutting, dispose of the excess carpet padding. Then grab a hammer stapler and a roll of masking tape. You’ll need both to complete the installation of the padding.
Install the Carpet Padding
For this task, you’ll want to start in the center of the room and work your way towards the tackless strips. Using the hammer staple, fasten the carpet padding to the floor. As you move along, you’ll want to make sure that there are no bubbles or uneven areas in the padding. Everything should be as level as possible. When you reach a section where two pieces of carpet padding meet, tape the seams together with the masking tape as well as staple them. After the carpet padding has been fastened to the floor, it will be time to install the carpet of your choice.
Killeen Gonzalez enjoys the great outdoors with her family and has traveled extensively.
