Installing Carpet Around Trims, Transitions, Pipes, Vents, Stairs & Special Areas

How To Install Carpet Transitions and Trim

Download Carpet Flooring Installation Instructions | PDF's
Quick Guide on How–to–Install Carpet – 300kb pdf | Our short installation guide for those with DIY experience.
Full Guide – Complete Installation Instructions on Installing your Carpet – 1.5 mb pdf | Our full set of DIY installation instructions.

Carpet can be installed in a variety of special circumstance areas such as on stairs or around brickwork.

Install on Stairs

You have two options when installing carpeting on stairs:

• Waterfall Method – One length of carpet is used to cover the entire stairway. This method is somewhat easier and considered more modern.
• Cap and Band Method – Individual carpet pieces are used to cover one riser and tread. This method is recommended for patterned carpets as you can better control where the pattern falls.
• Glue Down Method – Similar to the Cap and Band method, except you'll be gluing the carpet to the padding as well as securing with the tackless strips.

When installing carpet on stairs, you'll use tackless strips and staples to secure the carpet to the subfloor.

For complete installation instructions and safety information, see the full Installing Carpet guide above.

Install Around Brickwork

Install your carpet around brickwork the same was as along walls.

Transitions and Trims

Install transitions and trim to put the finishing touches on your room.

Install Transitions

Carpet transitions vary depending on the type of flooring you are transitioning to.

Carpet to vinyl/linoleum transitions include:

• Metal Transitions – Available in silver or gold. (Other materials and/or colors may be available.) These transitions are screwed or glued to the subfloor. A clamp–down or nap–lock device holds the carpet in place. This is the most common transition.

Carpet to other flooring transitions includes:

• Reducer Strip – Used to transition a higher profile flooring surface to a carpeted area.
• End Molding – Used to transition a similar height floor (tile, laminate or hardwood) to a carpeted area.

Install Trim

Install all quarter round to hide any gaps between the carpet and the wall base. Generally, quarter round molding looks better with lower pile carpets. When installing quarter round, always glue the trim to the wall and nail at an angle every 16". Use white or a matching color caulk to fill any gaps between the quarter round and the wall base.

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