The carpet is functional, versatile, and also very easy to install floor covering, which can be done independently. For it to last quite a long time, the floor covering must be correctly selected and laid.
How to prepare a wooden floor for laying carpet
Before proceeding with the installation of floor material, it is necessary to prepare the base. Wood floors often have flaws such as creaking boards, gaps, or uneven surfaces. If they are not eliminated, then after laying the material may break after some time. The easiest way to get rid of existing defects is to lay plywood or OSB sheets on the floor.
ATTENTION! If plywood is chosen for leveling the floor, then you need to take a waterproof option.
In the absence of such an opportunity, you need to do the following:
- all rotten boards must be replaced with new ones;
- shaky floorboards must be carefully fixed with nails or self-tapping screws, the caps of fasteners must be drowned into the boards, otherwise they will tear the carpet;
- all gaps need to be tightly filled with mastic;
- Oil or grease stains on the floor must be degreased.
ATTENTION! The gap between the walls and the boards that border them does not need to be closed. It will ensure the "walking" of the carpet with the floor, and will not allow it to deform.
Do I need a substrate for a carpet on a wooden floor
If the wooden surface is flat, free from defects and warm, then you can not put the substrate. A substrate is required in order to make the floor level and insulate it.
ATTENTION! When laying a floor covering on a warm floor system, a substrate is not required!
There are several options for a substrate, therefore, when choosing the right one, several nuances must be taken into account:
- Some of them are made of polymeric materials. They adhere very poorly to the floor surface.
- Laying the product on a substrate is performed by the stretching method. This is a rather complicated installation method.
- The optimal material for the substrate is cork. This is a natural material that provides additional heat and sound insulation, and also glues well.
IMPORTANT! Installation of the material must be done so that no air bubbles or irregularities form.
Ways of laying carpet
The following methods are suitable for installing flooring:
- free - fixing of a carpet is carried out by means of plinths;
- using tape;
- on glue;
- by the method of stretching - it is a difficult way of laying and it is used by professionals for installation of carpet in office premises.
The choice of method depends on the area of the room:
- less than 12 m2 - for double-sided tape;
- from 12 to 20 m2 - a free way or on an adhesive tape;
- more than 20m2 - with glue.
ATTENTION! Whichever option is chosen, the carpet should lie down before installation. It needs to be straightened and left for a couple of days.
Glue mounting
This is the most popular way to install carpet. For this, PVA glue or bustilate is used. There are also special adhesives.
Stages of laying:
- The material must be laid out on the floor, throwing one half of it on the other.
- An adhesive is applied to the half free of flooring. To fixation was more reliable, it is advisable to apply glue on the entire surface. Then leave the composition for about 20-30 minutes.
- The glue of a carpet is accurately laid on glue. It is necessary to carefully press and straighten the material so that wrinkles do not appear, for this you can take a roller.
- The whole procedure is repeated with the other half of the floor covering.
Adhesive tape
To ensure that the product is fixed securely, the tape must be at least 5 cm wide. A narrower version may break.
Stages of laying:
- First you need to glue the tape around the perimeter of the room.
- Further, it is glued in the form of a grid with a step of 0.5 m. For a more reliable fixation, you can paste over the entire surface of the floor.
- Then carpet is glued to the tape.
Stretching
For this method, special fasteners are used - gripers.
Working process:
- grippers are placed around the room;
- further, they mount the substrate;
- flooring is stretched using special equipment.
The technique is quite complicated, it requires special tools and good skills. Therefore, it must be performed by professionals.
Free way
The easiest way, which is ideal for rooms with a small area.
Installation steps:
- before installation, you need to treat the baseboards with an antiseptic composition - so they will not form fungus or mold on them;
- the floor surface is cleaned of dirt and dust;
- the floor covering needs to be laid out on the floor;
- with the help of a roller, the carpet must be smoothed out;
- if there are surpluses, they must be cut off;
- the material is fixed with baseboards, and in the doorway - with a threshold.
In order for the installation to be carried out correctly, and the carpet pleased for a long time, several rules must be observed:
- Installation can only be started after a good floor preparation.
- If it is not possible to level the floor using OSB or plywood, then a thick substrate should be taken.
- When removing excess material, you must leave gaps between the carpet and the wall.
- The direction of the pile of the product should be in one direction.
- Do not forget that after purchasing the product, it must be allowed to lie down in a straightened state. So you can avoid the appearance of waves during installation.
Preparing and installing the carpet yourself is quite simple. If you know the installation technique and follow the recommendations, then the coating will last for many years.
Leave Your Comment