How Much Does Carpet Fitting Cost?

How Much Does It Cost To Fit Carpet?

What Factors Affect The Cost To Fit Carpet?

1. Size of the room – The larger the room, the more carpet that’ll be required and the more it’ll cost to fit.
2. Type of carpet – Synthetic carpets are usually cheaper to fit than wool carpets but this can vary depending on the quality of the carpet and the complexity of the installation.
3. Underlay – A high-quality underlay usually costs more but it can improve the durability and comfort of the carpet.
4. Stairs – Fitting carpet on stairs can be more challenging and time-consuming than fitting it on a flat surface.
5. Installation method – If the carpet needs to be glued down, this’ll be more expensive than if it’s simply stretched over carpet grippers.
6. Removal of existing carpet – If you need to have the existing carpet removed before the new carpet can be fitted, this can also add to the cost.
7. Location – The cost of carpet fitting can also vary depending on your location. This is because labour rates can differ between different parts of the UK with London and other major cities usually being more expensive than rural areas.

How To Reduce The Cost of Carpet Fitting

If you are on a tight budget and want to reduce the cost of fitting carpet, there are several things you can do.

The first and easiest way to reduce the cost of fitting the carpet is to clear the room and prepare the subfloor. For example, this would involve removing old carpet and underlay as well as the carpet grippers. If you are replacing the carpet in every room, it may be worth hiring a skip to dispose of it all.

Another way to reduce the cost is to offer to dispose of any offcuts and other materials used to fit the carpet. This is because this is often charged as part of the installation service.

Although you could opt for a basic underlay or carpet material, this isn’t something we would recommend unless your budget is a really big issue.

How To Fit Carpet

Fitting carpet can be a challenging and time-consuming process but it can be achieved with the right tools and techniques. Below are the basic steps to follow when fitting carpet:

1. Measure the area you want to carpet and add a little extra for trimming. Once measured, cut the carpet to size and leave a few extra inches on each side.
2. Remove any furniture or objects from the room and vacuum the floor to remove any debris.
3. Lay the underlay onto the floor and ensure that it’s flat and smooth. Trim it to size and leave a gap of a few inches around the edges.
4. Install the carpet grippers around the edges of the room and ensure they are placed at an approximate distance of about 3/8 inch from the wall.
5. Starting from one corner of the room, lay the carpet onto the underlay and press it onto the grippers. Once attached to the grippers, use a carpet knife to trim the excess carpet around the edges of the room.
6. Tuck the edges of the carpet under the skirting using a knee kicker to press the carpet firmly into the gap.
7. If you are fitting carpet in a large room, you may need to join two or more pieces of carpet together. To do this, lay the carpet pieces next to each other with a slight overlap and use a carpet knife to cut them along a straight edge. You can then apply carpet seaming tape to the underside of the seam and use a seaming iron to heat the tape and join the two pieces together.
8. Vacuum the carpet to remove any loose fibres or debris.

How To Fit Carpet On Stairs

Fitting carpet on stairs can be a more complicated process than fitting carpet in a room. However, to give you an idea of how its done, below are the basic steps to follow when fitting carpet on stairs:

1. Measure the width and length of each stair and add a little extra for trimming. You can then cut the carpet to size, leaving a few extra inches on each side.
2. Lay the underlay onto the stairs and ensure that it’s flat and smooth. You can then trim it to size, leaving a few inches around the edges.
3. Install the grippers along the edges of each stair and ensure they are placed at a distance of about 3/8 inch from the riser and the back of the tread.
4. Starting from the bottom of the stairs, lay the carpet onto the underlay and press it onto the grippers. You can then use a carpet knife to trim the excess carpet around the edges of the stair.
5. Use a staple gun to secure the carpet to the stair treads and risers. You’ll want to ensure that the staples are flush with the carpet and that they are evenly spaced.
6. Tuck the edges of the carpet under the nosing of the stairs with a knee kicker to press the carpet firmly into the gap.
7. Continue fitting the carpet on each stair and work your way up to the top of the staircase.

As you can see, the process of fitting carpet on stairs requires a lot more effort and it’s the reason why the cost can be far more per square meter.

How Long Does It Take?

The time it takes to fit carpet varies depending on several factors such as the size of the room, complexity of the installation and the experience of the fitter.

However, as a rough guideline, it can take around 2-3 hours to fit carpet in a small room such as a bedroom. If the carpet installation involves more complex tasks such as fitting carpet on stairs or in multiple rooms, it can take longer.

Additionally, if any unexpected issues arise during the installation such as uneven floors or tricky corners, this can also add to the fitting time.

Conclusion

Fitting carpet is a cost-effective way of transforming a room and if you are confident with your DIY capabilities, it may be something you can do yourself.

However, due to the cost of fitting the carpet being relatively low, it’s usually worthwhile having a professional installer fit the carpet.

Hopefully our guide has answered all your questions regarding the cost of carpet fitting. However, if you require further information, feel free to get in touch and we will try to provide our assistance where possible.