Common carpet installation mistakes and how to avoid them

If you are considering installing a new carpet, avoid these common mistakes if you are an inexperienced carpet installer. If you have never fitted a carpet or are not confident in your fitting skills, it's better to use a professional carpet installer.

Incorrect measurements

Before buying a carpet, measure the room's width and length. Add at least 10cm to the length and width measurements to account for waste. If you make a mistake and don't order enough carpet, you will need to purchase more to fill in the gaps.

Most carpets need to be cut to fit the room size and fit around doorways and alcoves. If you make a mistake in measuring how much to cut off, the carpet won't fit properly. If you have cut off too much, there will be unsightly gaps. Poor measurements can cause unnecessary waste.

Accurate measuring will prevent you from buying more carpet than you need. To ensure that you buy the correct amount of carpet, use a carpet retailer who will measure your rooms for you and then quote for the exact amount of carpet you require.

Improper carpet stretching

If a carpet is not stretched and secured properly when installed it may develop wrinkles after a while as it cannot expand and contract in response to humidity and temperature changes.

The best way to stretch a carpet when installing is to use a carpet power stretcher tool. A professional carpet stretching tool can cost several hundred pounds. You may be able to hire one or you can buy non-powered ones for a lot less. Alternatively, an inexpensive carpet knee kicker can be used.

Stretching a carpet requires some skill. There are YouTube videos that show you how to do it, but mistakes can still easily be made.

Improper pad installation

Both the carpet and the padding have to be installed correctly, otherwise the carpet will be uneven and have bumps or wrinkles.

Carpet padding or underlay should be installed on a clean subfloor and laid perpendicular to the direction the carpet is installed. Secure with padding adhesive or staples and use duct tape on the seams. If using tack strips, leave a half inch gap.

Forgetting carpet acclimation

If the carpet has been stored in a cold warehouse, and then delivered to a warm room, the changes in temperature may cause the carpet to be slightly smaller. This is why it is important to acclimatise the carpet by leaving it in the room, where it is to be fitted for 24 to 48 hours.

Lacking the proper equipment

Like most do-it-yourself jobs, using poor or incorrect equipment to fit carpets diminishes the chances of doing a decent job. You will need at least the following tools and equipment: utility knife, pliers, straight edge ruler, carpet knife, knee kicker, carpet stretcher and carpet tucker. It is best to use premium quality tools, but it will be expensive to buy them all if you don't have them. It could work out cheaper to use a professional fitter.

Improper seaming

If the carpet is stretched perpendicular across the carpet seam, it may cause the seam to be more visible. Instead, stretch the carpet parallel to the seam.

Make sure the seam edges are sealed to prevent them from unravelling. If using a seal iron, it must not be too hot otherwise the seams may be discoloured.

As carpets are sold in fixed widths, seams are inevitable in larger rooms. Try to position seams away from windows or intense light sources where they will be more visible. If possible, seams should be positioned in low-footfall areas where they are less likely to be caught in shoes.

Trimming mistakes

Poor trimming or cutting can cause gaps, uneven edges, or overlapping. Be sure to measure accurately and use a sharp, professional-quality carpet knife.

Carpet installation is not easy and requires several skills. The common carpet fitting mistakes listed here are only some of the many ways inexperienced fitters can do a poor job. Without knowledge and experience, it is not worth taking the risk of installing a carpet yourself. Instead, visit a local carpet retailer in Wrexham, Chester, or North Wales who will recommend a good carpet installer. Ideally, use a retailer that includes professional fitting at no extra charge when you purchase a carpet from them.

Professional fitters are experienced in even the most complex fitting tasks and will ensure that your carpet looks its best in your home or business.