The Essential Tools Youll Need for Carpet Installation

Instead of paying for professional carpet installation, many homeowners decide to do it themselves. Whether you love weekend do-it-yourself (DIY) projects, or you池e simply trying to cut costs, installing your own carpet is a great way to save on your new flooring. Of course, investing money into all of the necessary tools can also be a hassle if you値l only be carpeting one room. Many flooring Air Swimmers retailers allow you to rent tools, and you can also typically find cheap tools from home supply stores. Once you have a clear plan in Flying angry bird mind, you can begin buying the equipment. Here are some of air swimmers the most important tools you値l need to complete a professional-looking carpeting job without hiring someone to install it for you.1. Measuring TapeIf you don稚 already have a tape measure on hand, you値l need to get one before you even pick out your new carpeting. You値l use measuring tape to determine how much carpet to buy, and it is one of the single-most important tools of the carpet installation process. Be sure to get a little extra carpet to account for mistakes or irregularities in the flooring.2. Tackless StripTackless strips are thin pieces of wood that you値l nail around the edges of the room. They are covered in small tacks or nails that hold the carpet in place. In addition to gripping the carpet, they also keep the edges of the carpet in place along the walls.3. Power StretcherA power stretcher helps you stretch the carpet across the room smoothly. Laying the carpet out across the room might not seem like a difficult task, but you値l end up with bumps and wrinkles if you neglect to use a power stretcher.4. Seaming Tape If you池e doing a complex carpet installation that involves carpeting between two or more rooms, you値l need seaming tape to keep the flooring RC Air Swimmers looking smooth. Lay the seaming tape underneath the two pieces of carpet where they meet, and seal it together. Make sure the carpeting is going in the same direction before applying the adhesive.5. Knee KickerA knee kicker is a small tool that you値l use to spread the carpet out evenly against the baseboards or in corners. It works similarly to a power stretcher, but on a smaller scale. You値l use the power stretcher first to lay the carpet out across the room, and then you値l use the knee kicker for detail work. If you want your carpet installation job to look professional, it痴 important to use both of these tools.6. Stair ToolEven if you won稚 be carpeting any stairs, it痴 still a great idea to use a stair tool. After you致e stretched the carpet across the room and used the knee kicker to create smooth edges against the walls, you can use a stair tool to tuck the edges of the carpeting into the space left between the baseboard and the tackless strips.7. Staple HammerBefore you install the actual carpeting, you値l use a staple hammer to install a carpet pad. The carpet pad provides an extra layer of padding and insulation between the floor and the carpet, and is especially important if your floor is made of hard materials, such as concrete.8. Carpet Knife and Wall TrimmerYou値l also need both a carpet knife and a wall trimmer to trim the carpet痴 edges neatly. A carpet knife is primarily used to trim carpet that needs to fit around nontraditional shapes or obstacles, such as an entryway or hallway. A wall trimmer is used for excess carpeting that lines up against the wall. When you place the trimmer against the wall, it cuts the carpeting in a straight line that matches the wall痴 edge. Both of these tools are important for a successful carpet installation, as they値l help you to ensure that there are no uneven edges or jagged lines in your flooring.