When it comes to installing your new carpets, it is completely possible to do it yourself. However, it will be a fairly demanding project, and if you have a bad back or weak knees, it’s not one you’ll want to undertake. However, if you have the time, the know-how, and the desire, you can easily do it.

First, you’ll need some tools. The common tools you’ll need include tackless strips, a hammer, a knife, chalking, a measuring tape, a stapler (not the desk kind—a heavy duty stapler), knee pads, and gloves. You will also need some specialized tools. You can rent most of these from a hardware shop. They include a power stretcher, seam cutter, seaming iron, knee kicker, seam tape, wall trimmer, seam roller (or a rolling pin, if you have one at home), and a strip cutter.

Once you have your tools together, it’s time to remove the old carpet. First, take up the moulding along the walls and remove the door (this makes it easier to get the carpet out). Use your knife to cut it into strips, then start pulling it away from the tackless strips and rolling it up. Take it out and get rid of the old tackless strips.

Now you’re ready to install new tackless strips. Put them around the entire room (but not in front of doors), and leave about a half inch between the strips and the walls. Next, it’s time to lay down the underpad. Lay strips of underpad over the tackless strips and then staple it down. Make sure the underpad strips are placed tightly against each other.

Once that’s done, it’s time to lay the actual carpet. First, measure the entire room. Add six inches to that measurement, and cut your carpet to this length. If your room is large enough that you’ll need two pieces of carpet, cut them both to this length. You’ll want to make certain you lay the two pieces so that the carpet pile goes the same way, of course, or it will look odd. Note that you’ll have some excess at the walls.

Overlap your two pieces of carpet and use the seam cutter to cut throw both so the edges will exactly match. Once it’s cut, use seaming tape and the seaming iron to join the two pieces together (place the tape under the carpet with the adhesive side up to do this easily).

Next, you’re doing to use your knee kicker to tack down the carpet. This tool grabs the edge of the carpet and stretches it over the tackless strip. The strip’s “teeth” will grab the carpet and hold it tightly. Use the carpet stretcher to stretch the other end of the carpet over the tackless strip, then trim off any excess carpet.

Now there are just a few things left to do. First, you’ll want to use the stair tool to tuck down the carpet. Next you’ll need to install door edge strips under each door to hold down the carpet there. You’ll also need to cut holes in the carpet for floor vents if you have any.

That’s it! You should now have great looking, brand new carpet in your room!