Carpet Tiles

A How to Guide to Installing Carpet Tiles

Before you get starting installing those cheap carpet tiles a few tools and supplies are required first.

Essentials: Carpet knife, chalk line reel, pliers, tape, ruler, carpet tiles and a wood filler, protective eyewear, and breathing apparatus.

Step 1

Clear the area. Remove all furniture and clutter, creating a clear working environment without any objects, kids, dogs or cats. Using the pliers starting in a corner, gently pull the existing carpet off up on the ground. Inspect the sub flooring. You’d expect to find a timber or an underlay. If an underlay, remove as you’ll be able to install the carpet tiles over the timber flooring. Remember to use protective gear: clothing, eyewear and masks as the former debris may be volatile. It may be easier to simply cut the former carpet and remove it that way.

Step 2

Clean the hardwood floor using a vacuum and a once over with a damp cloth removing any dust or debris. If the hardwood flooring isn’t exactly flat, use the wood filler to iron out and level. Follow the wood filler’s instructions for doing so.

Step 3

Calculate the area in which the carpet tiles are needed. Simply measure by multiplying the width and the length to find the square footage required. There are many online calculators to help you do this. Then it’s off to the shop to buy the CARPET TILES. Be sure to buy a little more than required in order to protect yourself against accidental slipups that occur with cutting preparation etc.

Step 4

Determine what pattern will be required. Do a little research to identify the design, texture or flow of how you’d like the carpet to be presented. Do a few practice runs in a well lit area to get a better idea and plan on how you’d like the design to look and feel.

Step 5

Typically what’s suggested is that you start from the center of the room, working outwards as you go along towards the wall. You’ll need the chalk lines to determine the exact center of the two walls, where the two lines meet will identify your reference point.

Step 6

Use the tape to protect and demarcate the chalk line. Determine whether the starting point looks reasonable and visualize how the end result will look. Be sure that you’ll be happy with the design. A good idea at this point is to lay the carpet tiles without adhesive to help and correctly do this.

Step 7

Starting with a T pattern along the demarcated lines, use 4 quadrants in your designated room using them as a guide for laying the tiles down.

Step 8

Remove the adhesive from the back of the tiles to begin to stick them to the floor.

Step 9

After using the chalk line intersection as your point of reference, lay down one quadrant working from the intersection point to the walls and fix the tiles to the floor.

Step 10

As you begin to get closer to the walls, using the carpet knife and preferably a ruler, slowly and carefully strip away the side of the tile so it fits perfectly against the wall. Do this very slowly and carefully as it’ll require a new tile if you cut off too much.

Step 11

After work is complete, enjoy. Remember the name of the particular tile as you’ll need it if you have a stain and need to replace that one particular tile. Otherwise, ENJOY the new CARPET TILES!