Tips for Securing Carpets with a Carpet Stretcher

It is interesting that the most important aspect of successful carpet installation is quite often overlooked by the starry-eyed novice who might have watched one too many home improvement shows on the DIY Network or HGTV: carpet stretching. Granted, you are probably not a novice and if you are ready to work with carpeting yourself, the odds are good that you have either had experience in the past, have read up on the subject, or maybe even have the ready assistance of a professional! Yet no matter if you are a newbie or an old hand at home improvement tasks and you are ready to take on this job on a do-it-yourself basis, here are some guidelines and tips for securing carpets with a carpet stretcher and get a result that rivals the pros' any day!

Clean your subfloor - It is tempting to begin hammering in the tack strips right away and leave the grease spots and dust bunnies be; even though nobody will see what is below the padding, cleaning that subfloor is vital for the longevity of your padding and your carpet.

Buy and install high quality padding - The better the quality of the carpet padding, the more comfortable you will feel walking around on it. Sure, with the cost of carpeting being what it is there is a distinct trend to spend a little more on the actual carpet and a little less on the padding, but if you have ever walked on a carpet with thin padding underneath, you know why this carpet is doomed. In addition, did you know that overly thin padding may actually cost you more money because it requires more frequent re-stretching and might also raise your energy bills because of the heat that is lost?

Rent a carpet stretcher - There is no need to buy something you can rent from your local big box home improvement store. At the same time, do not let your Uncle Ed talk you into ignoring this little suggestion. It does not matter how strong he is and how many carpets he has successfully installed without a carpet stretcher; the fact that most of his carpets have odd ripples and that he has area rugs in the strangest spots should speak volumes.