How to install commercial carpet

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Whether it’s office space, retail, industrial, leisure, or healthcare, the vast majority of businesses require somewhere functional to operate. The materials used in commercial buildings must be hard-wearing, and functional but also visually appealing, which can be a hard balance to strike. That’s why many businesses choose to install commercial carpet – a highly durable flooring option that’ll stand the test of time.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through, step-by-step, how to install commercial carpet styles in your workspace. While DIY office carpet installation can be challenging, we’re here to give you all our tips when it comes to installing commercial carpets. Take a look at the following steps to learn how to install commercial carpets with ease.

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How to install commercial carpet tiles

1. Pre-installation checks

Before commencing with the office carpet installation, you need to ensure the space is properly prepped. The room must be at optimum temperature and humidity to facilitate correct office carpet installation.

The room temperature should be maintained between 18 ºC and 35 ºC, while the humidity should range between 10% and 65%. And, to make sure the installation of the commercial carpet is successful, it’s best to ensure all your materials are acclimated 48 hours before installation.

2. Floor preparation

Before you begin installing the commercial carpet, you should check the floor is free of holes and loose boards or tiles. If you find any issues with the existing floor, make any necessary repairs to create a smooth surface for your office carpet installation. You should also ensure the floor is dry and dust-free because any debris could prevent your carpet from sticking well to your subfloor.

3. Carpet underlay installation

Before you can install your commercial carpet, first you need to install underlay for your carpet. Lay the underlay out on the floor, in the longest lengths possible, with the seams running perpendicular to the carpet seams. Ensure there are no gaps and trim any excess along the perimeter walls to guarantee a tight fit.

Once laid out, fold back the underlay and apply either with a staple gun or glue to the floor. If using glue, spread the glue adjacent to the walls to ensure the underlay edges don’t curl up. Once the glue becomes tacky, lay the underlay onto the adhesive and smooth it down, working towards the seams and eliminating any bubbles or wrinkles as you go.

Read our guide about how to lay carpet underlay for a more detailed breakdown of this step.

4. Carpet layout

Once the underlay is fully attached to the subfloor, use a carpet knife to cut the commercial carpet to the required length. The carpet should be cut around three-four inches longer than the area to be carpeted. If using patterned commercial carpet, make sure you allow for pattern repeat here.

Lay the cut carpet out, with the carpet seams at right angles to the cushion seams. Align the carpet breadths to their proper position and trim the seams, being careful not to cut into the underlay under the seam.

5. Glue the carpet to the cushion

Next, you need to glue the carpet to the underlay. Use a trowel to uniformly spread the glue over the underlay. Again, wait for the adhesive to take on a tacky consistency, then lay the carpet into the glue. Then, using a carpet roller, roll in both directions to make sure it properly adheres to the underlay.

Once fully laid into the glue, press straight down on the carpet, eliminating any bubbles or wrinkles. The carpet should now be left for at least three hours before rolling for a second time to ensure a strong bond is established.

Make sure nobody walks over the carpet for a minimum of 24-48 hours after installation. The carpet needs time to adhere properly, or you could be setting yourself up for carpet problems in the future!

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How to install carpets on concrete

Make sure you’ve completed all your pre-installation checks of the space, such as temperature regulation. Make sure the concrete subfloor is properly prepped by cleaning and levelling it. Then proceed to lay your underlay – making sure there are no gaps and trimming any excess - and fit your carpet as you would on any other flooring type. Leave it to stick down for a couple of days.

Office carpet installation costs

There are many factors to consider during the planning phase of commercial carpet installation, and these can have a massive impact on the overall cost of the project. The factors that might influence the cost of your office carpet installation include:

Whether the floor is temporary or permanent
The type of base/sub-floor
Whether you require an underlay
How big the space is
The quality and design of the carpet tiles

On average, you’ll need roughly £30 per square metre for the supply of all materials needed to install commercial carpet tiles. We recommend you use our professional fitting service for the installation of your carpet, which will cost a minimum of £75 in addition to the price of the carpet. We also have an uplift and removal service you can use for your old carpet too.

Now you know how to install commercial carpet tiles, you can save money on the installation of carpets in your business space. Simply follow our step-by-step guide to installing commercial carpets and give your office a revamp. Be sure to check out our other flooring DIY tips too, including how to lay laminate flooring and how to fit vinyl. Alternatively, if you're looking to revamp your home office, then why not have a read of our guide on the best flooring for home offices?

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Post author

Jeremy Garrish Buyer Jeremy has 35 years of carpet industry knowledge

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Published: 01-12-2022

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