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Fire & Water - Cleanup & Restoration

How To Replace Your Carpet After Water Damage

5/19/2020 (Permalink)

Carpets make any room cozy, and they can help reduce noise, too. However, heavy foot traffic, dirt, spills and more can diminish the quality of your carpet, and if you experience a water damage event, such as flooding from a burst pipe or a weather-related disaster, you may end up having to deep clean it or even replace it if the damage is especially bad. Replacing your carpet could be a project for you to handle if you enjoy doing things yourself, but it is certainly one for more experienced do-it-yourself-ers. If a DIY project of this size is not something you want to tackle, contact a flooring professional for help. 

Here are the materials you will need to complete your carpet installation project: Tackless Strips, Carpeting of Choice, Carpet Scissors, Hammer, Staple Gun, Knee Kicker, Utility Knife, Dust Mask, and Gloves. 

Measure. 

Before you begin making any permanent changes, you’ll need to decide how much carpet you’ll be replacing and what kind you’ll choose. Measure the area and write down all your measurements, including small areas by windows, closets or hallways. Keep in mind, you’ll want to allow for a little extra to make room for error.

Out With The Old. 

Once you’ve purchased the amount of carpeting you’ll need, the next step is to remove the existing carpet and carpet padding. Make sure to wear gloves to protect your hands, and a dust mask as well. Starting in a corner of the room, detach the existing carpet from the tack strip. Fold back and cut, about every 3’ or so, into sections you can handle easily. After you’ve removed the carpet, remove the padding in the same way you removed the carpet - and also remove any glue or staples that are stuck to the floor before proceeding to the next step. If your tackless strip is not damaged, you can keep it and use it to install your new carpeting.

Clean The Floor.

You want to be sure that you’re starting with a clean floor to work on, especially if the floor replacement was due to water damage. Sweep and vacuum the floor to start, then smooth out any areas that may have excess material. Make sure the flooring underneath is completely and thoroughly dry, and mold-free. If you discover a mold issue, call us here at SERVPRO for mold remediation measures. 


Install Strips.

If there was no damage to the old tackless strips you might be able to use them. Size to the wall and nail them a half-inch away, avoiding doorways. 

The Padding.

Next, it’s time for the carpet pad; you will want to be sure the padding is an exact fit, as you don’t want it to overlap. Staple it to the inside of the tackless strip, and stretch and staple any seams of the padding as well. Cut any excess padding and secure any joins with tape.

Lay The Carpet.

Lay the carpeting over the carpet pad, leaving a few inches of excess. Make sure the carpet pile is going in the appropriate direction, especially if you are matching other carpets. Using the knee kicker, attach the carpeting to the tackless strips; place the kicker against the carpet and hit to stretch the carpet into the strips. Trim the carpet with your utility knife and create a clean look by tucking in the edges between the wall and the strip using a metal edge.

Clean Up and Conclude.

Clean and vacuum the area to finish, trimming any excess threads. 

Replacing and installing your own carpet is not easy work, but when it’s done you can be proud of your accomplishment! 


Always keep in mind that whenever your property suffers from water damage, fire damage, or a mold invasion, our team here at SERVPRO of Belle Meade/West Nashville is always here to help!

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