Correct carpet installation is essential if you are to get the best out of your carpet. Whether you are installing it yourself or calling in the professionals to do the work, the quality of the job is critical to the performance and life you can expect from your new floor coverings. Unless you are sure you know how to install carpet, you would be well advised to seek professional help in order to ensure the protection of this major investment.

Even when using professionals, however, your carpet installation is something you should oversee. Before they arrive, you should familiarize yourself with the minimum industry-accepted carpet installation standards so that you can make sure the company installing your carpet follows them. Don’t feel you have to keep out of the way when the carpet installation is proceeding. While letting the professionals get on with their job you should also be on hand from the start, first to make sure the carpet is the texture and color you ordered, and then to keep a discreet watch on events, to avoid problems later.

While watching the carpet installation, check that the carpet is being stretched properly, to minimize wrinkles. You should also make sure you are happy with the placement of the seams. While the seams will not be invisible, you can ask for them to be located in areas where they are not conspicuous.

Apart from choosing the carpet, preparation is one of the first and most important aspects of carpet installation, to ensure it will have a long life. Before installing carpet, remove the old carpet and padding, and vacuum the floor when it is cleared. As far as is possible and convenient, you should also remove all furniture from the room in readiness for the carpet installation. This will make it much easier for installing carpet in the area, and will result in a better quality job.

Before installing carpet you should also ascertain whether the new carpet would impede the opening of doors. If you can, obtain a sample of the carpet to test it before the carpet installation begins. It may be necessary to have the doors removed and shaved. If so, it is better to know this and have it done before installing carpet, rather than finding out too late that it is needed.

Even if you have a firm of professionals doing the carpet installation, it is a good idea to read up on the procedure beforehand so that you have an idea of how to install carpet. In this way you can watch as the work is done, to make sure it is being carried out to your satisfaction. Before the carpet installation gets under way, ventilate the room by opening windows and doors.