Is it risky for a novice to attempt cutting costs by fitting carpets themselves, potentially leading to expensive mistakes?
Asked by Sandra Nieto 
4 months ago
Last Updated: July 26, 2024
So, my husband thinks we should save some money by installing our own carpets. The thing is, he’s never done it before and I’m a little concerned that if he messes up, it could end up costing us more in the long run. Has anyone else tried this before? Do you think it’s a risky move?
Ood luck! It really takes skill to stretch, tuck, and make things perfectly straight.
It’s not too difficult, just pulling it tight can be tricky. Hopefully the room is less than 12 feet, otherwise there will be seams.
Hey there, what about stairs? I need mine done if you’re available! 😄
Stretching the carpet is definitely a challenging task that requires expertise. Otherwise, you’ll have uneven carpeting that poses a tripping hazard.
If you purchase the carpet from Lowe’s, they provide free installation service. It’s just another option worth considering.
Rice It seems like there might not be a Lowe’s store on her continent based on how this is worded.
Just make sure to rent a high-quality stretcher, and if he’s skilled, he should be able to manage it.
In my opinion, this is a job that is best handled by a professional. It might seem simple, but if not done correctly, it can end up looking uneven and awful later on.
Carpet is definitely not something for beginners. Even professionals steer clear of it. If not done correctly, it can wear out prematurely, no matter how good it looks initially. Seams are truly an art.
Yeah… I really respect his ambition. rowing up with a Father who was a skilled carpet layer, I can say that the key word there is “skilled” for sure. He learned through years of apprenticeship.
If he has the time to practice, he can definitely master the technique of carpet installation. Practice makes perfect, right?
The installation process for carpets is not as complicated as it may seem. If he can do it, so can I! Just gotta practice and get the hang of it with the right tools.
Trust me, as someone who usually prefers to do things themselves, when it comes to carpet installation, it’s worth hiring a professional. The minimal cost compared to the risk of errors and the expense of acquiring the right tools justifies paying a professional.
If it’s carpet with padding already attached, no big deal. But if it’s not, I wouldn’t try to handle it myself just to save some money. I may be thrifty and love DIY projects, but that’s a bit too much for me.
Carpet installation is not really a DIY project these days. It requires knowledge, tools like a carpet kicker, and the right materials. If you want to tackle carpet installation yourself, consider using carpet tiles instead – they are much easier to install.
Consider using hard floors with throw rugs instead.
The only carpeting I really deal with is installing those square commercial patches (either 1 by 2 or 2 by 2). Installing carpet is a completely different story, and the tools needed to stretch and seam it can end up costing just as much as hiring a professional (or maybe I’m exaggerating a bit).
As a contractor, I always subcontract carpeting jobs because it’s more challenging than it looks. I tried my hand at it a few times and realized I’d rather build a house than lay down carpet. Home Depot offers a stretching tool for rent at around $90/day. And if you have seams, you’ll need a hand iron to connect the pieces with tape. Look for a skilled Latino carpet installer who won’t overcharge and can get the job done 70% faster than an American team.
The best flooring job I ever had was done by an American crew. They were fast, efficient, and charged a fair price. I believe they all originally came from Mexico.
Definitely got his strong work ethic from working with the Latino community. I don’t mean to sound harsh, but I’ve hired crews from America, Latino, and the Middle East for various jobs like roofing, flooring, framing, carpeting, concrete work, drywall finishing, hardscaping, you name it, and Latino contractors always come out on top.
But yeah, my main point is that tackling a carpet job as a DIY project could take a homeowner two weeks and still not be done as well as when a contractor does it in half a day
I think you’re not getting the point. You can have Latino and Middle Eastern roots and still be a proud American.
Dan Your choice of words is spot on and very respectful. Kudos to you!
Haha, now I get it.
I’m so happy you see this too. I totally regret hiring Americans to do my floors. They took forever (literally) and the floors look awful. They also left a huge mess. My Mexican workers would never do that. Hispanics and Latinos always bring their strong work ethic and efficiency to every job!
Seriously, where are all these racists even coming from?
If he doesn’t know how to lay carpet, it’s best to hire someone who does. It’s a more complicated task than it appears.
Lowes and Home Depot often include free installation with a purchase.
We usually do our own projects, but we hired someone to install the carpet. Lowe’s offered free installation. They did a perfect job.
Carpet installation isn’t really a DIY project. It’s best to hire a professional, trust me. You’ll be glad you did, and your significant other won’t be upset with you.
I’ve done a lot of DIY projects like tiling, electrical work, roofing, framing, drywall, plumbing, carpentry, and stonework. But when it comes to laying carpet, I always prefer to leave it to the professionals. If it’s done incorrectly, it can turn out really bad.
If you hire someone who is not experienced, it could end up costing you double for your carpet purchase. And trust me, it’s not as easy as it seems!
When I was a teenager, I assisted a professional carpet laying crew a few times so I have a basic understanding of the process. As an adult, I installed carpet in my own bedrooms after already laying tile or hardwood in the rest of my house. If you’re tackling a perfectly square room, it should be easy with a kicker-carpet stretcher. But if you have a room with an odd shape and a walk-in closet, good luck because I never quite got that one right!
It can be tough on your back.
Please, don’t go through with it.
My advice is to prepare the rooms, remove old flooring, install the new padding, ensure the baseboard is 3/8 inches off the subfloor, place the tack strip about 3/8 inches away from the baseboard (or install if necessary), make sure the door jambs are undercut, take out any doors from the room, and then have a professional handle the carpet installation
It was a breeze. We tackled all the bedrooms on our own.
Can we see some pictures, haha
Is it just me or does DIY carpet installation seem like a minimal task that doesn’t require professional help?
The minimal savings aren’t worth it. We renovated a whole house by ourselves, but we hired professionals for carpet installation.
I’d suggest just hiring a professional. I have experience with carpet installation and many floor installers today don’t work with carpet anymore. It might sound easy, but it’s not. If you’re unsure, it’s better to seek help. Fixing mistakes requires a range of tools and depends on the carpet type. There are too many variables to determine if it’s suitable for a DIY project.
Encourage him to give it a try. It’s not brain surgery. Watch a couple of YouTube tutorials, get the right tools, and go for it. It’s possible to fix minor mistakes in carpet installation if you follow the basic steps.
It shouldn’t be too difficult. Start with a small area or room first.
It really depends on his skill level and if he’s ever seen it done from start to finish. I’ve been installing for years and, while it’s physically demanding, I find it manageable. He should have a basic idea of where to begin and end. I recommend he watch a video or two if he’s never seen it done before. It can be frustrating if you’re completely clueless about the process.
Tell him to spare his knees. The cost savings of laying carpet yourself are not significant. If it’s not done correctly, the carpet won’t sit right. It may seem like you’re saving money, but you have to invest in the right tools to cut, sew, or glue the carpet pieces, install the tack strips, match grain orientation, cut and join seams, and stretch the carpet into place. Using a knee kicker stretcher can be tough on your knees. Besides, you need to know how to cut the carpet to fit the room and have all the necessary materials to match floor levels and use the right transition strips to complete the job. Even after buying or renting all the tools, you’ll still end up crawling around on your knees for hours, pulling and shifting the carpet. When you factor in all the costs, he might only save about $20, not counting the medical bills if his back and knees are aching after finishing the first room. Just hire a carpet company to do it, take a few pictures of the workers, and stay out of their way. It’s not worth the trouble.
I’ve worked in construction for over 30 years. I strongly advise against doing it yourself.
Professionals make it seem easy, but that’s because they do it for a living. My husband is really handy and can handle all kinds of projects and repairs, including flooring… but for the small amount you might save, it’s better to have an expert do it.
Invest your money in carpet – if he cuts it wrong you’ll have to go buy more, which isn’t easy, especially if you’ve never done it before. ood luck though!
Thanks to everyone 🙌🙏, hopefully this convinces him!
Hire a professional for sure!
Installation is usually offered for free, depending on where you make the purchase. When you factor in the cost of buying or renting tools, how much are you really saving in the end?
It’s best to just hire a professional. It’s much more difficult than it seems and mistakes can be hard to correct.
I saw a carpet installer at my old workplace recently. They carefully trimmed the carpet to fit the room, used nailer strips and a kick plate to stretch it tightly. If you cut it to exact size, it will bunch up. If you cut it too small, it won’t stretch properly. I would opt for a seamed edge that doesn’t fill the room entirely, or I would hire a professional. I enjoy DIY projects, so it’s not that I am hesitant to try new things.
I agree with this!
I think I’ll tie the knot with him
When I was young, my dad took on the challenge of installing carpet himself and it honestly wasn’t too complicated 🤷♀️
Put some trust in your husband.
You really should consider investing in professional tools like stretchers and knee kicks. The larger stretchers can be quite expensive. Plus, it definitely makes the job easier if you’re not having to seam the carpet and use transition strips.
Putting in carpet is a tough job, so I would reconsider that idea.
I suggest getting a quote before attempting to do it yourself. Remember how we were going to do it ourselves and then my wife convinced me to get a quote from Home Depot? They did 600 square feet for $400, which honestly seemed too good to be true. We were getting ready to sell the house, so we decided to go with a good quality padding and a more affordable carpet, and it was definitely worth it in the end!
That doesn’t sound like a good plan.
A truly submissive wife wouldn’t even think about posting something like this. However, if your husband tends to be a narcissist and easily explodes, I can understand why you felt the need to share. In any case, just let him handle it. He’ll probably end up asking for help within minutes or show you the man you always hoped he would be when you said ‘I do’. Keep us updated!
Seriously, what kind of response is that?
Hey, my wife and I decided to have our carpets professionally done by Home Depot when we built our new home back in 2000, but they ended up wavy and buckled after a year. We fixed them ourselves by stretching and cutting them, and later replaced some in our son’s rooms. Eventually, we switched to hardwood in our master and living room instead of getting a third carpet.
I can’t quite tell if that was sarcasm or just a Neanderthal moment… my brain hurts.
Just having a laugh 😂 ‘t take things too seriously, it’s just social media.
1800? But hey, it’s 2024! If women can’t respect their husband’s authority, why get married? Submission goes both ways, it’s a team effort. I understand the concept of modern women, go girl power! But let’s not emasculate our men. My post was just a joke. Let the man handle things, or let him mess up, that’s part of the deal, right? We marry for the good and bad times, for better or worse, after all. Just some light-hearted fun, no need to take it seriously. I’m sure you’re a blast at parties! 😘 And maybe, just maybe, let your husband pick out his own pants every day.
If he doesn’t use a power stretcher, it will end up loose within a year or so, and you’ll end up paying more to have it restretched.