Carpet installation: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What carpet installation is

Carpet installation measures the rooms, installs padding and tack strips, stretches the carpet tight across the floor, seams the pieces together and trims the edges, transitions and stairs. People need it for a new room, a worn floor, or a change to a softer, warmer surface.

Signs you need it

  • The old carpet is worn through in traffic paths, matted, or holding odors that will not clean out
  • The padding has flattened or crumbled, and the carpet feels hard and loud underfoot
  • You are moving into a home or a room that needs a clean floor for a child or a pet
  • The tack strips have come loose, and the carpet ripples or pulls away at the walls
  • You want a warmer or quieter surface for a bedroom, a family room or a stair

What the pro does

  • Measure each room and mark the seam locations, planning the carpet so seams fall away from high traffic
  • Check the subfloor for flatness and debris, and nail the tack strips around the perimeter at the correct distance from the wall
  • Install the padding, cut it to fit and seam it with tape where the product requires it
  • Stretch the carpet with a power stretcher, attach it to the tack strips and trim the edges at the walls
  • Seam the pieces together with a seam tape and the hot-melt or sewn method, then check the seam for a clean match
  • Install the transitions and the stair treads or runners, then vacuum the carpet and walk the room with you

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • Room square footage, the number of rooms and the stair count
  • Carpet fiber and construction, such as the twist, the loop or the cut pile, and its face weight
  • Padding type and thickness, along with any moisture barrier used
  • Number of seams needed, which depends on the room width and the carpet roll width
  • Removal of the old carpet and padding, and the disposal of the waste
  • Stair work, including the treads, the risers and the nosing finish

What a written quote should spell out

  • Square footage by room, the seam plan and the roll width used
  • Carpet fiber, construction and face weight, with the color and style named
  • Padding type, thickness and the warranty on the padding
  • Tack strip and stretch method, with the number of stretch points included
  • Stair, transition and edge work listed, along with the removal of the old carpet

Questions to ask before you hire

  • Where will the seams fall, and will any be in a high-traffic path?
  • What padding do you use, and how thick is it?
  • How do you stretch the carpet, and what do you do to keep it from ripple?
  • What do you do with the old carpet and padding, and is disposal included?
  • How do you finish the stairs and the transitions to other flooring?
  • Can you show me a carpet install you did in a room of similar size and layout?

Red flags

  • The pro installs carpet on a subfloor with nails, debris or ridges and says it will be fine
  • The pro does not stretch the carpet and says it will settle into place
  • The pro puts a seam in the middle of a main path with no reason given
  • The pro uses a padding with no weight or thickness listed on the quote

What you can do yourself

Removing old carpet and pulling staples from the tack strips, and cleaning the subfloor, are reasonable homeowner tasks. Stretching, seaming and trimming carpet take special tools and experience, so a professional installer should handle the install, especially on stairs and in rooms with complex shapes.

Licenses and permits

Carpet installation commonly does not need a license, but subfloor repair and any structural change may require a permit or qualified contracting. Check with your state or local licensing agency about the rules that apply to your work.

Carpet installation questions

How long does carpet last?

It depends on the fiber, the traffic, the padding and how well the carpet is stretched. A well-installed carpet with good padding lasts longer than one that rippled from day one. Ask the pro about the fiber warranty and what the padding does for wear.

Should I choose a thicker padding?

Thicker padding feels softer and can help the carpet last longer, but a pad that is too thick can make the carpet unstable. Ask the pro to match the padding to the carpet's weight and the room's use.

Can carpet go over a concrete slab?

Yes, with a suitable moisture barrier and a plan for the tack strips. Ask the pro to test the slab and to explain how the carpet is attached to concrete.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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