I need some help on items I need to install my soon to be baby's room carpet. I am a do it yourselfer and don't wanna pay the 200+ dollars to have people come and install for me. I am putting a moderate to light backing carpet down and padding. I know I need tack strips and to duck tape the padding together. I now know that I need a knee kicker/carpet stretcher and a wall stretcher. I can rent them I found out at my local store but my father in law can get me one for 20 bucks. So I will probably just buy one b/c I have future installs. Now the big dumb ? is how the hell do I use them? If anyone has any info or websites let me know. THANKS

 

http://www.doityourself.com/diy/carpetinstallation.htm

 

in my humble opinion, first buy the kicker, for 20 bucks you can't go wrong(mine at wholesale was a lot more than that). next, the thing that you didn't want to hear, if you have never done this before it might be a good idea to have the carpet pro install the baby room(congrats new dad) while you are looking over their shoulder to learn(heck, i paid more in books while in college) since you have future installs in your project list. is the carpet going into the baby's room, going to join any other carpet such as the hall area, bathroom etc.? if so , if you diy you will also have to rent a carpet iron to mend the seams. if you are reaaly intent on doing this on your own, post back.

barry

 

I agree that paying someone to install this room and watching over their shoulder is a good idea. If you screw up a carpet installation, you can create both safety and aesthetic issues and I'm sure you don't want any unnecessary safety concerns in a baby's room (like tripping over a small carpet wrinkle in the middle of the night holding junior).

 

Yeah it is in the baby's room. I have 4 months and counting down so I guess the way it looks I might be saving some money here and having them do it. Eventually we do wanna put carpet in the hallway. So you guys think just have them do it and watch? Sounds ok to me but I am the type of person to do things myself. I took on many projects that at first I was like what the hell am I doing, but in the end saved huge amounts of money, like the one my father in law and I just finished all new 12/2 wiring in the house. Old wire just fell apart in your fingertips. Also the hole seaming of carpet, I don't know how that works and the room is 13ft. and change by 9 ft and change, so seaming won't be an issue here. But when I go to install hallway carpet can't I just put one of those brass looking carpet divider/holder down. Ones that are there when you enter a room. I don't think that will look the best thought now that I think of it. Also how do you seam. I saw some kind of seaming tape at Lowes when I bought the carpet tape for the computer room I just did. Which was easy. I bought commercial carpet and for around 80 bucks I did it myself. (My dad too!!) Just used tape and so far no wrinkles and it has been a month. Well thanks for all the info!!!!
Chris