If you are thinking about installing carpet over hardwood floors, you should follow some specific steps. Carpets are great for protecting wood floors. Here you will find what you shouldn’t do, so keep reading this blog to know more about this vital process. Besides, this blog will give you some tips to not damage the floor.
When you have a hardwood floor, it’s better to install a carpet because it protects the floor and gives an aesthetic style to the room. Some people opt to have area rugs, but carpets are better. Besides, it is crucial to be aware of the maintenance because you won’t install a carpet on the floor if it’s damaged. Also, be mindful of the type of wood you have.
6 Steps You Should Take When Installing Carpet Over Hardwood Floors
Here are some steps for installing carpet over hardwood floors:
- Get the materials.
- Clean the hardwood floor before installing the carpet.
- Don’t cut the carpet before having the room’s length.
- Install moisture or water vapor barrier under the padding.
- Use masonry nails for the strips.
- Install the carpet.
Get the Materials
Before installing the carpet, it’s essential to get some necessary materials and tools to ensure you have all you need. Some of the required materials that you should have in hand before installing a carpet over a hardwood floor are:
A knee kicker, masonry nails, a hand saw, a vinyl foam padding adhesive for carpet, a tackless strip, carpet tape, a seaming iron, and, more importantly, a carpet.
Moreover, you should get cleaning tools and materials because there is a step where you will clean the hardwood floor before installing the carpet.
Clean the Hardwood Floor Before Installing the Carpet
When you have wood things, especially hardwood floors, it’s vital to clean them to avoid some wood illness. Before installing the carpet, it’s essential to check if there is mold or mildew because if you don’t remove it, the carpet tends to get mold too. Dirt allows fungus infestation, which promotes wood deterioration and illnesses.
For this step, you must remove the dirt by vacuuming the floor or using a sweep. Besides, you can use borax, detergent, or a scrub brush to remove stains. Sometimes, the base has debris, dents, and scratches, so fixing these elements is essential. One piece of advice is to use microfiber towels to clean the surface.
Don’t Cut the Carpet Before Having the Room’s Length
It’s essential to have the room’s length fit the carpet over the floor and the space. Also, the proper measures are vital for some carpet padding types too. In this step, you must take into account the tack strips because the padding must cover them.
Further, you can use a measuring tape to get the exact measurements and remember to write them down. It’s necessary to know the perimeters of the room, especially of the living rooms, because the sizes vary. Some carpets are expensive, so don’t waste material.
Install a Moisture or Water Vapor Barrier Under the Padding
This step is optional, but it is crucial to install a moisture or water vapor barrier. It will allow you to keep your carpet clean, safe, and dry, and at the same time, you will protect the floor. Some benefits of these barriers are entirely eliminating moisture, blocking air gaps, and protecting the wood and the carpet from mold penetration.
It is essential to protect the barrier with carpet tape. As you could read, you can opt not to use it, but remember that this vapor barrier is like auto maintenance. In this way, you will be able to protect the floor and the carpet.
Use Masonry Nails for the Strips
It’s time to install the strips, so you should take the measures to fit the perimeter to install the carpet. It’s necessary to use masonry nails for different reasons, but it doesn’t mean you can’t use others.
Masonry nails have different benefits; for example, they resist different weather conditions, avoiding corrosion. These nails do not break and provoke small holes as others, and more importantly, they can secure the carpet by preventing them from coming out.
Moreover, these nails are wood-friendly and even give an aesthetic view!
Install the Carpet
The last step is to lay out and put the carpet over the strips and the hardwood floor. After you clean the surface, set the vapor barriers, and install the strips, it’s time to trim the carpet at the doorway.
Next, it’s the moment to start hooking the carpet to the tackless strip in one corner and repeat the actions with all the corners. Some people like to use stair tools to make this step. Be sure that the carpet covers the entire floor to roll out over the surface. Also, make sure to use a power stretcher to hook and stretch into the stack strips. Additionally, take into account tucking the carpet as well.
Finally, check if there is excess carpet with a carpet trimmer or a utility knife to cut it, and seal your carpet seams with tape or seam adhesive glue. Don’t forget to stretch the edges of the carpet to avoid any mistakes.
Installing carpet over hardwood floors seems to be an easy process, but it is always essential to have professional advice. Here at JG Carpet Contractor, we have the best professionals in the market, so don’t hesitate to contact us for any doubt you might have.