How to install Carpet

Welcome to our simple guide to installing your new plush Carpet.

You're going to love just how quick and easy it is to install your new carpet floors over your existing subfloor.

Download Installation Guide

OK it's time to start installing, let's take it step by step

• Embelton Carpets must be adhered to the subfloor.
• Ensure that moisture testing and subfloor preparation has been conducted, and that the results meet or exceed Australian Standard AS2455.
• The flooring material must be acclimated to the site for a minimum of 24 hours prior to installation.
• Check each roll for any defects during the installation, exclude any material that is unsuitable for laying and contact Flooring Online should further advice be needed.
• Before starting, measure the length and width of all rooms and hallways, be sure to plan the layout so that seam placement is optimized with joins placed away from open and high-traffic areas wherever possible.
• Prior to adhesion, we recommend that all the material is laid out over the subfloor, to check that the set out is visually appealing.
• To achieve the best results, the material should run the length of the longest straight wall, and wherever possible toward the primary light source.
• Full coverage of adhesive at the recommended spread rate is essential to a successful installation

SETOUT

Step 1. Assess the layout of the first room where laying will commence. This should be the largest room, or the room that connects others – for example a lounge or hallway. The carpet should be unrolled in the direction of the longest straight wall, and toward the primary light source.
Step 2. To determine a starting point, divide the width of the room by 1800mm. This will tell you how many lengths of carpet are required. Setout the carpet so that full carpet widths fill the main traffic areas, or main open areas, leaving fill pieces along the back wall, under joinery or under a bed for example. Then use a chalk line or straightedge to strike/mark lines every 1800m where the seams will fall.

Step 3. Unroll your carpet lengths in the room, with the edges placed approximately at the chalklines. Ensure that the carpet is all unrolled so that the printed arrows on the back of the carpet are all pointing in the same direction. NOTE: CARPET IS DIRECTIONAL. ALWAYS ENSURE THE ARROWS ON THE BACKING ARE FACING THE SAME DIRECTION.

CUTTING SEAMS

Step 4. Using a scriber, (or a ball-point pen) angled at approximately 45 degrees, run the scriber along the length of the carpet, approximately 10mm in from the edge, to separate the rows of pile from one another and create a straight line.
Step 5. Take your cushion back cutter, and ensure it is fitted with a sharp blade that is set to match the thickness of the carpet backing.
Step 6. Insert the cutter into the separated row, and make the cut, following the line along the carpet edge in a smooth motion from one end to the other. Don’t worry if it does not cut all the way through, you will have scribed the backing enough to make it easy to complete the cut afterwards with the Stanley knife.
Step 7. Repeat this process for each side of each carpet seam before setting up the carpet edge onto the chalkline and butting the two pieces closely against one another.

SPREADING ADHESIVE

Step 8. Now the starting point has been determined and the carpet sheets setout, it is time to spread the adhesive. Peel back each carpet sheet in half, being careful to ensure the carpet does not move as you do so.
Step 9. Using your 3.2mm v-notch trowel, spread the adhesive to ensure even and consistent coverage to all areas (approx. 5m2 per litre). Trowel only enough adhesive for the flooring to be laid within the working time of the adhesive. This is typically two to three sheets at a time. If in doubt, start with fewer sheets. If any adhesive gets on the surface of the vinyl,immediately wipe it off with multiclean or an appropriate adhesive removal wipe.

INSTALLING THE CARPET

Step 10. Carefully fold the first piece of carpet into the adhesive, ensuring it remains correctly aligned to the chalkline or setout marks.
Step 11. Carefully and slowly, fold the second piece of carpet into the adhesive, alongside the first, ensuring as you go that there is no pile trapped between each of the sheets. Kick the second carpet sheet across to meet the first to ensure they are tightly butted together and that the carpet backing is touching.
Step 12. Roll or apply pressure to the carpet, especially along the seam to ensure there is good adhesive transfer. If any bubbles have formed these can be pushed out to the edges with your hands.
Step 13. Repeat the process 10-12 on the opposite half of the carpet to complete the installation.

TRIMMING IN

Step 14. Finally, it is time to trim the carpet to the edges of the room and adjacent fixtures. Push all the carpet into the wall to ensure it is placed as neatly and tightly into the wall as possible. Using your Stanley knife at an angle of approximately 60 degrees to the skirting board, make a straight and smooth cut along the straight walls. It is always better to start cutting slightly longer, then getting closer and closer to the correct length as you build confidence.
Step 15. When coming to corners, pull the carpet back from the edge and cut the carpet from the back using the line you have cut along the straight walls as a guide. Again cut conservatively, check and then cut again if needed.
Step 16. When cutting along trims at edges with other finishes (such as a tile edge) you may simply use the trim edge as a guide with the blade angled slightly to ensure the carpet pile overlaps the hard edge.

FINISHING

Step 17. Your carpet installation is now complete! Ensure all the edges are neatly tucked in, and trim any loose fibres using knapping shears (or household scissors)
Step 18. It is advisable to wait at least 1 hour before vacuuming and moving furniture back onto the carpet to allow the adhesive to cure.
Step 19. Always be careful to lift furniture into place rather than dragging to avoid damage, and the use of floor protectors is recommended for heavy items with small legs to distribute point loadings and minimise pile crush.

Lastly, Get Insta Ready

Congrats, you did it! Before you kick back and admire a job well done, don’t forget to snap some photos and share your new carpet. Tag us on Instagram @flooringonlineau to really make our day.