What to Expect
Once you've selected the perfect carpet for your home, you will be eagerly awaiting the day that it is installed. Whether you choose to install it yourself or use a professional installation team is up to you, but there are many factors to consider before making this decision.
It is beneficial to do the job on your own if you have the experience and the know-how to do so, and you will likely save money and possibly time. However, there are definitely some drawbacks to DIY carpet installation. For example, you will need to check with your retailer and/or the manufacturer to make sure the carpet is covered under warranty for a home installation; you will also need various specialized tools such as tackless strips, a knee-kicker, carpet stretcher and seam roller; and you will need to be prepared to deal with unforeseen complications. In general, carpet installation can be a big and sometimes complex job that may turn out to be more cost effective (and less stressful!) to have installed by experts.
The installation process firstly begins with removal of the old flooring. Then a foam pad called an underpad is placed down to make the carpet feel softer when you're stepping on it and to help absorb noise. Next comes the actual carpet. The carpet should meet each wall snugly with no edges showing, it should lay smooth without any bumps or ripples, and none of the seams should be apparent.
Signs of a poorly done installation include frayed edges where the carpet meets the wall, seams that don't match up or are not properly aligned, and bumps or ridges in the carpet. It can be costly and time consuming to correct these mistakes so it is best to have the carpet installed correctly the first time around.
For additional information and expert advice, feel free to talk to one of our West Michigan Carpet Center team members.
