Materials
D.I.Y.
Planning your next
D.I.Y. Project
The Bunnings D.I.Y. brochures are designed to help you step
the way through your D.I.Y. home projects.
Install Carpet
DIY Carpet kit (includes knee kicker, knife & tucking tool)
Underlay
Carpet
They’ll give you the right advice on what materials you’ll need,
how to get the job done and tips and ideas for achieving
the best result.
How to install carpet
Tools
Knee Pads & Goggles
Hammer
Measuring Tape
Carpet Gripper (Smoothedge)
Joining Tape (if required)
Safety
Use kneepads to protect knees and goggles for hammering in nails. Use gloves if
necessary when handling the carpet gripper due to the sharp pins protruding.
Expert D.I.Y. advice
If it’s advice you’re after, come in and discuss the project with
one of our experts. Ask about organising Same Day Delivery, Tool Hire,
Installation or even enrol in one of our D.I.Y. classes.
BUNN794 07/11
For more information go to
www.bunnings.com.au
www.bunnings.co.nz
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What you’ll need to get started
on your D.I.Y. Project
How to D.I.Y.
Install Carpet
Decorate a room with new
carpet. Carpet is a soft
textile that adds warmth
and colour to any room.
Choose from a range of
textures, styles and colours
available and add value
to your home. DIY carpet,
the solution to your flooring
needs.
Preparing your floors
Installing carpet begins with preparing your floors. If you have a wooden
floor, a thorough sweep or vacuum should do the trick. Nail down any loose
floorboards. If you have ducted heating, find out where exactly the ducts are
so that you can cut the holes out after the carpet has been installed.
Measuring the room
Using the Bunnings on line flooring estimator or measuring pads in store,
measure the length and width of the room to determine the quantity of carpet
required – NOTE: take in to account the width of carpet product purchased.
Installing the carpet
Installing the carpet gripper (smoothedge)
The first step in laying carpet is to install the
carpet gripper. Cut the gripper strip to fit the
length of each wall. You’re going to nail the
strips around each wall, leaving about 8 -12
mm between the strip and the wall. Nail the
strip using the nails pre-fitted in the strip. The
pins should point toward the wall. Make sure
that the strips join together at the corners of
the room. For concrete floors, use concrete
gripper; for timber floors, use timber gripper
– noted on the box at point of purchase.
Installing the underlay
Please Note:
Information in this brochure is Bunnings’ opinion and we don’t warrant
the accuracy or completeness of that information. Bunnings excludes all
liability in relation to the statements in this brochure.
The next step is to install the underlay. You need to cut the underlay in lengths
long enough to reach the carpet gripper. Staple the carpet underlay every
150mm to secure it to the floor. If your floor is concrete, you’ll need to spot
glue the underlay to the floor using any carpet adhesive. Let the adhesive dry
completely before moving on to the next step in order to prevent the underlay
from bunching up under the carpet as you fit it. Remember that the underlay
should not overlap, but rather butt together. Cover seams with tape. Cut off
any excess underlay with a knife.
Place the carpet in to the room
When placing the carpet in to the room for installation, be careful of painted
surfaces as the carpet backing may graze paint. Roll carpet out ready for
cutting and fitting.
Joining carpet
If the room being carpeted is bigger than the width of the carpet then a
join is required. A simple method is to use wide pre-glued tape with peel of
backing. Using this restricts the amount of stretching of the carpet using the
kicker as it may cause the join to come apart. Commercially available heat
irons and heat bond tape can be used if required.
Cutting the carpet
When cutting the carpet, you need to remember a few points regarding the
texture of your carpet. The pile should always face in the same direction,
make sure that the pile faces one direction — usually toward the main
doorway is the preferred direction.
Here’s a guide for cutting:
– for cut pile (twist & plush) carpet - cut along back of carpet with a utility
knife
– for loop pile carpet - cut through the face of your carpet
Take a measurement of your room and cut about 100 to 150mm extra so
that you have some excess carpet.
Attaching the carpet to the gripper
Now you’re ready to hook the carpet onto the
gripper strips. You’re ready to use the knee
kicker! Starting on one wall, push the teeth of
the knee kicker into the carpet approximately
25 – 50mm from the wall. Kick the cushioned
end of the knee kicker with your knee. This will
firmly hook the carpet onto the gripper strip.
In addition to this you can use a hammer to
firmly ‘rub’ along the carpet pushing it on to
the gripper strips. Continue along each wall
anchoring the carpet on to the carpet gripper
Stretching Using the Kicker
Using the knee kicker, stretch the length and the width of the carpet until
reasonably tight – do not ‘over kick’ with the kicker as it may rip the
carpet.
Trimming & Tucking
Once the carpet has been stretched onto the gripper, trim the excess carpet
off leaving approximately 10 – 15mm of carpet for tucking. Tuck the 1015mm of carpet down between the skirting board and gripper using the
tucking tool – this gives a nice smooth finish.
If required, fit a doorway trim at the doorway to finish of the carpet to the
doorway.
Glueing Carpet Directly To the Floor
Carpet can be directly stuck to the sub-floor using the appropriate carpet
adhesive. This method is useful for areas where more then one width of
carpet is required, therefore avoiding heat seaming joins.
Follow the directions on the adhesive container for best results.
D.I.Y. Hints and Tips
1. When pulling up old carpet, cut in to one metre wide strips to make it
easier to get out of the room.
2. If skirting boards require painting, paint them after removing old
carpet so painting can go all the way to the bottom of the board –
allow curing time before installing new carpet.
For further expert advice consult the qualified Team Members at your
local Bunnings Warehouse.