Carpeting 101

Q: I need to replace the carpet on the second floor of my new home, but I know almost nothing about laying carpet. Can you start me in the right direction? — Claudia C., Kansas City, Mo.

A: The most important thing to remember about carpet installation is that preparation is everything. That old carpentry adage, “measure twice, cut once,” applies to carpeting as well. You’ll need to carefully measure the rooms to be carpeted, estimate the amount of carpet, decide what type of carpeting to purchase, and then install it so that everything looks uniform.

Measure the size of the room to get not only the total square footage, but the exact length and width. Then, draw a sketch of the room, noting the location of door frames, odd bends, and nooks, like closets. Bring the sketch with you to the carpeting store so the sales representative can get a good idea of how much carpet you’ll need, and how it should be laid out.

And layout is important: that’s the second sketch you’ll make. Once you’ve chosen the type of carpet, find out how long and wide each roll is. It likely will not fit perfectly, and you may have to buy additional pieces or rolls to fill the room. Remember that, when comparing the room measurements to the actual measurements of the carpet pieces, you must allow for a few extra inches of carpet all around the edges of the room and where the carpet pieces meet (the seams). Typically, add 6 inches of carpet to each side of the room, and 3 inches of carpet at the planned seams. The edges will be trimmed away once the installation is complete, and the excess along the seams allows you to cut the carpet pieces so that they match perfectly.

Choose your carpet (and its backing) based on the look, feel and price. Different fibers have a different feel; the way carpets are constructed also affects their appearance and softness. The padding, when selected to match the type of carpet you buy, can mean the difference between a rough, hard feeling, and a soft, warm cushion under the toes. One quick way to compare carpet quality is to examine the backing, or foundation, of carpet samples; a tighter grid pattern usually indicates a more durable and soil-resistant carpet.

Installing the carpet is a whole new experience.

Home Tip: Check the backs of carpet samples: labels on the back typically tell customers the fiber composition, available widths, warranty details, recommended backings to use and whether stain-resistant treatments have been applied.