Installing a new carpet in your house can make you wonder, “How long does it take to install a carpet?” Well, this depends on numerous factors.
Before understanding “How long does it take to install a carpet?”, let’s first understand “Why does it take so long to install a carpet?”
Benefits Of Installing A Carpet
These are some benefits that will make you install a new carpet in your house.
1. The patterns and vibrant colors of the carpet give an aesthetic vibe to your house and make it more welcoming.
2. A carpet acts as an insulation layer on your hard flooring. It will keep you warm in winter and cool in summer.
3. Carpets tend to absorb sound waves that will make your home more peaceful.
4. Installing a new carpet will also improve the air quality of your home as your carpet hold infinite dust particles, harmful bacteria, and dust mites.
5. If you have young kids, then installing a carpet will ensure safety from slipping in high-traffic areas.
But have you ever wondered who installs the carpet when you are living in and rented apartment- You or the landlord?
Why Does It Take So Long To Install A Carpet?
Installing a carpet can be a daunting process, and it may take hours to days to complete the process. Sometimes, the crew is to blame, but sometimes your own house is to blame.
That brings us to discuss the various factors that affect the carpet installation process.
1. Shape and size of the room
If you have rooms without any difficult-to-reach corners or odd-shaped walls, then installing a carpet can be done in half a day or can take a whole day.
However, if you have rooms with irregular shapes and sizes, it may take longer than 4 to 5 to complete the task.
Normally, it takes 2 hours to install a carpet in a small room and 4 hours for a medium-sized room, whereas if you have a large room, it may take longer than 6 hours.
The most difficult part for a carpet fitter is to install the carpet on stairs, which can take a tremendous amount of time.
2. The number of furniture in the room
The biggest factor that affects the installation time is the amount of furniture you have in your house.
If you have a lot of furniture and you are a do-it-yourself person, then it will take a lot of people to get the furniture out without hurting either you or the furniture.
Even with a professional doing the job, it can take a few hours or even days to completely move out the furniture, depending on its size, price, and if the furniture needs to be disassembled or not.
3. Efficiency of the installation crew
The professionals you hire to do the work also affect the time taken to install the carpet.
For instance, hiring an unskilled crew may take longer than usual. Similarly, if the number of people in the crew is less, you can expect the installation to take longer time.
4. Types of carpet
Among the few factor that affects the installation time of a carpet, the type of carpet you are installing is also included in the list.
For example, installing a low-pile or Berber carpet may take less time than installing a stuffy shag carpet.
This point takes us to understand how the thickness of a carpet affects the installation time.
5. Thickness of the carpet
When buying a carpet, always consider the thickness of the carpet too. A thicker carpet will provide you with more cushioning and insulation.
But it also leads to an increase in time to install the carpet. Thicker carpets are also made of heavier materials, which means it is more difficult to handle them and lay them down correctly.
6. Design of the carpet
There are numerous designs that people choose for their homes. Some of them are listed below:
- Geometric patterns
- Solid
- Floral
- Stripes
- Plaids and many more
These patterns and designs also affect the installation time. The installer may take longer time as he has to ensure that the pattern is aligned correctly and all the pieces fit perfectly.
7. The amount of carpet
Even if you have a tiny house, it will require more time if there is more floor space to cover.
It can take an hour or even several days to cover a greater amount of floor space. Normally, for an ordinary square-shaped room, it will take an hour to complete the installation process.
8. Removing the old carpet
The most obvious reason to remove the old carpet is to provide a proper flat surface to install the new one. Also, if the old carpet is in the way of the new one, then your need to remove it.
This process of removing the old carpet takes up to 2 hours for just one standard-sized room.
The Process Of Installing A Carpet
Now that you have an idea about what factors to keep in mind while installing a new carpet let’s get moving onto the next process.
1. Prepare the room
Preparing the room for installing the carpet is essential. It will help you reduce the installation time of the new carpet and getting the old one removed.
The very first thing to do is move all the furniture from the area.
The process can also be simplified if you can move the furniture to one side, lay the carpet, and then move the furniture back to its original place.
2. Acknowledging the Floor issues
Preparing the room by moving the furniture is only the beginning. There are other issues also that need to be addressed before installing the new carpet.
For instance, you need to ensure that the floor is leveled before starting the padding.
Solving problems like this will reduce the installation time.
3. Installing the padding
The process also involves installing new padding.
One thing to keep in mind in this process is not to use the old padding as it has some material trapped in it that can make the process even more difficult.
4. Ensuring the carpet is flat
Sometimes the new carpet result in developing puckers if not installed properly.
Most professional carpet fitters use tools like carpet stretches to ensure a flat carpet and prevent it from buckling.
Once the carpet is tucked correctly, you’ll see the smooth surface of the carpet. It also reduces the chances of falling due to puckers.
5. Final inspection
The one final inspection is essential to ensure that there’s nothing more that needs improvement.
This action also increases the chances of the carpet to last for more years.
6. Cleaning up
Once all the tools are removed from the area, the final step requires some light cleaning.
Light cleaning implies using a vacuum cleaner to clean any tiny particles or debris left on the carpet surface.
This process also implies that now you can move the furniture back to their places.
How Long Does It Take To Install A Carpet By Professional Carpet Fitter?
A professional carpet fitter can reduce the time of installing a carpet depending on the amount of furniture you have and the size of the rooms. They also bring more manpower and various tools with them.
It’s difficult to anticipate an exact time, but in most cases, installing a 1000-square feet carpet takes a whole day.
But if you are thinking of doing the whole work by yourself, then it will not only be a time-consuming process but also a frustrating one.
They come with their experience of years and various tools that ease up the carpet installation process.
To calculate how much time will take to install a carpet according to the space. You can use a carpet installation cost calculator.
However, there are specific points you need to remember before hiring a professional.
- Work Experience– A professional carpet fitter comes with years of experience. Always ensure to ask for employment qualifications.
- Customer feedback- Check what others are saying about a company’s service.
- Quotation- Always ask for a quotation. This will give you an estimate of the cost of installing the new carpet.
- Warranty- A rule of thumb- always work with companies that will provide you with a guarantee or warranty.
Aftermath
Before moving the furniture to its original location, allow the glue to dry.
Usually, it takes 24 hours for the glue to dry. You can take a stroll on your fresh carpet.
However, keep children and pets out of the working area, as installing a new carpet produces a lot of noise, vibration, and debris.
And some experts also recommend waiting 3 to 4 days before sleeping in a room with a new carpet installed, as most carpet glues emit harmful gases. But is carpet glue toxic to human health?
The Cost Of Installing A Carpet
There are various factors that determine the cost of installing the carpet.
| CARPETS | COST |
| Propylene Carpet | $20 per square meter |
| Nylon or Wool Carpet | $40- $60 per square meter |
| High-quality Wool Carpet | $100- $150 per square meter |
Conclusion
There are various factors that influence the installation time. Always keep in mind that quality is always more important than speed. Always ask for an estimate of how long does it take to install a carpet.
FAQs
Can you walk on the newly installed carpet?
Yes, we discussed that waiting for 24 to 72 hours is an appropriate time for the glue to dry. Avoid high-foot traffic on your newly installed carpet.
How long does it take to install a carpet?
The answer to this question depends on factors like a professional crew, the size of the rooms, stairs, and so on.
What is a typical installation process?
A typical installation process can take up to 4 days. The first day is to take measurements, one day to prepare, one for installation, and one for the glue to dry.
Daleyza knows a lot about carpets! She has worked with carpets for over 7 years and can help with things like putting them in, keeping them clean, and replacing them. She really likes carpets and spends most of her time learning about new ways to work with them. When she’s not learning about carpets, she enjoys reading books. She’s really good at helping people choose the right carpet for their homes and making sure they’re happy with it. If you want to know more about carpets, Daleyza is the person to talk to!