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Get the details on gluing down carpet in our handy guide. We’ll show you what materials to buy and how to install and patch carpet.
Gluing down carpet is a quick and easy installation method and results in a very durable floor. Get the details below on the best installation methods and the tools and supplies needed.
Carpets come in a wide variety of styles, and not all types can be installed with adhesive. If you would like to install glue-down carpet, you will have to select a carpet with a glue-down backing.
This method has some big advantages. It will not move or buckle under the weight of heavy furniture, like when a carpet is only attached at the edges. That is why glue-down carpet is often used in commercial spaces.
Before beginning, make sure the floor is clean and dry. Patch any uneven spots or missing underlayment with patching compound or floor leveler.
Measure the room and purchase a few extra feet of carpet than is needed. You will trim it to size during installation.
Here is a list of supplies you will need:
- carpet
- adhesive recommended by manufacturer
- notch trowel
- carpet knife
- carpet tucker
- knee pads and gloves
- Roll the carpet out in the room and allow the excess carpet to run up each wall. (Make sure the carpet is laying square to the walls.)
- Fold back about half of the carpet to expose bare floor. (It’s best to start with the side furthest from the door.) 3. Use a notched trowel to spread adhesive over the exposed floor.
- Carefully roll the carpet down onto the adhesive and smooth out any bulges.
- Repeat the process for the other half of the carpet.
- Press the carpet into the corner between the floor and wall and carefully cut along the walls with a carpet knife.
- Use a carpet tucker to push the edges of the carpet under the baseboards (or install new baseboards on top of the carpet).
Clean your trowel and other tools immediately with mineral spirits and a cloth or paper towel.
In a way, glue-down carpet squares are installed more like tiles than carpet.
- Prepare your floor as above, then strike two lines at 90° angles to each other, near the center of the room. One line should be parallel to each wall.
- Adjust the lines so that the carpet tiles will be centered each way. This avoids ending up with a wide square on one side and a sliver on the other.
- Begin gluing carpet squares in the center of the room, at the crossing of the two center lines.
- Work one quadrant at a time and cut the squares as necessary.
- Use a knife and straightedge to cut out a square around the damaged area. (Pro tip: use a square of wood as a template and cut around it.)
- Peel the old carpet back, using a scraper or putty knife, and remove it.
- Cut a new piece of carpet to fit. Use the same wood template to cut a new piece of carpet.
- Test fit the patch, trim if necessary. The patch should be a snug fit.
- Apply adhesive to the floor.
- Install the patch and press firmly along the perimeter. (Use a putty knife to work the edges in if needed.)
- Blend the fibres with a stiff brush.
Is a corner of a patch or an edge of your carpet starting to come loose? Reach for a bottle of LePage Extreme Glue to make the repair. This versatile adhesive is incredibly strong and durable, yet goes on mess free and dries clear for nearly invisible repairs. It will bond to almost any surface and won’t cause the carpet to curl.