Your floors are a central point of your home’s overall aesthetic. By choosing carpeting for your flooring, you can enhance that aesthetic with beautiful color and texture while also reducing noise, improving your home’s air quality, and lessening the likelihood of falls.^[1]

Before embarking on a carpet installation project, however, it’s important to understand the project’s overall timeline. This will allow you to plan other renovation projects accordingly and work together with your installation team to make the process as smooth and streamlined as possible.

While carpet installation generally won’t take more than a day, your exact timeline will vary depending on a number of factors unique to you.

What Does Carpet Installation Look Like?

Carpet installation may seem relatively straightforward, but it’s actually a multi-step process that requires professional expertise for the most seamless and beautiful outcome.^[2]

The process can differ with each individual contractor or company, but generally, carpet installation follows these same steps:

1. A floor inspection to ensure that no debris gets trapped under the carpet.
2. Measuring and cutting the carpet to fit the intended area.
3. Laying down the padding.
4. Tacking down the carpet.
5. Stretching the carpet from wall to wall.
6. Vacuuming, debris removal, edge trimming, and other finishing touches and clean-up.

A talented installer can perform these tasks quickly and efficiently, all while ensuring the look and quality of your chosen carpet.

Variables That Can Affect Carpet Installation Timelines

Generally speaking, carpet installation doesn’t take longer than a day. In fact, you may even get an installation estimate of just a few hours. However, it’s also important to take into account the preparation time needed to get your room ready for a fresh carpet.

Carpet installation isn’t a one-size-fits-all procedure, either. The timeline you’re looking at could change depending on several factors, such as:

• The size of the room you want to be carpeted
• The scope and size of the project (i.e. the number of rooms you want carpeted)
• Whether or not you need to remove furniture or old carpeting beforehand

To make the process as easy and efficient as possible, do what you can before installation day. For instance, you might remove any furniture you can safely move on your own, or ask whether your installation crew can remove furniture or old carpet for you as part of the overall service.

The Importance of Communication and Contracts in Carpet Installation

When you contract with a company to install your new carpet, be sure to read the contract thoroughly, ask questions where necessary, and keep an open line of communication with your team to ensure the best results and your own satisfaction.

A contract will often include the following points of interest:

• The estimated length of your requested job
• The time the crew will arrive to install your carpet
• Any safety requirements you must meet for the installation process
• What to do after installation
• Whether or not the installation includes furniture or old carpet removal

Since each project is unique to an individual home, you should always defer to your personal contract to gain a clearer understanding of your carpet installation timeline.

Hurdles That Might Slow Carpet Installation

In a perfect scenario, your installation team will get in and out of your home within (or under) their estimated timeline. However, delays do happen. The good news is that many of these delays are caused by factors you can predict and avoid.

A few of the most common have to do with preparation, timing of other renovation projects, and the overall state of your home. For instance:

• Lack of ventilation – Carpet installation can kick up dust, dirt, pet dander, mold, and more. For this reason, it’s important to make sure that your HVAC system is running smoothly during the installation process (if you have one). Additionally, ensure all windows in the affected area are operational so that your team can use them as needed. Otherwise, they may need to slow or stop work to avoid health hazards.

• Painting your walls at the wrong time – If you’re planning on painting the room you’re carpeting, you may want to avoid the risk of damaging your new carpet by painting the room before the old carpet is removed. However, keep in mind that paint typically takes 30 days to cure.^[3] This means you may also risk damaging your carpet if your installation team comes during that period. It’s best to wait the full curing period before installing your new carpet.

• Not following your installation team’s preparation instructions – Not adhering to preparation instructions can significantly delay the start of your project. To ensure efficiency and timeliness, take all necessary preparation steps. Often, these steps will include sweeping the floor before your inspection, removing small pieces of furniture and light household objects from the room, and taking items down from the walls.

• Not knowing the state of your floor – What lies beneath your old carpet can seriously impact the amount of time it takes to install your new carpet. Water damage, uneven flooring, structural problems, and other issues may result in the team needing more time to ensure that your new carpet goes on smoothly.

As stated earlier, having an open line of communication is crucial for overcoming these hurdles and reducing any extra time tacked onto the project.

Get Your Dream Carpeting Installed Quickly by Partnering with Westlake Village Flooring

If you’re looking to enhance the aesthetic, feel, and quality of your home with a simple renovation project, installing new carpeting is a great option. Plus, by understanding your carpet installation timeline and the steps you can take to ensure a streamlined process, you can more easily plan for future renovations and enjoy a timely, high-quality home makeover.

Even if you have no desire to change your house in a bigger way, just altering the flooring can make a world of difference. New carpets can freshen up the air, update the look of your home, and provide the feeling of soft, clean flooring underfoot.

When you’re ready to get your dream carpet, trust your installation to the professionals at Westlake Village Flooring. With over 33 years of experience, we’ve earned a reputation for providing high-quality carpet installation and excellent customer service.

Reach out today for a free project consultation.

Sources:

^[1] The Carpet and Rug Institute. Benefits of Carpet. https://carpet-rug.org/carpet-for-homes/benefits-of-carpet/

^[2] The Carpet and Rug Institute. Basic Installation Guidelines. https://carpet-rug.org/carpet-for-business/carpet-installation-information/

^[3] Martha Stewart. How Long Paint Takes to Dry and Cure. https://www.marthastewart.com/8125286/how-long-paint-takes-dry