Concrete provides one of the durable floors that can last as for at least 20 years with minimal care and maintenance. But, its surface may not be as appearing as laminate, vinyl, and ceramic tiles, which tend to be naturally beautiful. Adding carpet to concrete flooring makes the floor look appearing, feel soft, and comfortable to walk on. But how do I glue down carpet on concrete floors?
You can either glue the carpet directly on the concrete floor or glue the carpet on the carpet pad that you had fixed on the concrete floor. Prepare the floor, measure, and cut the carpet. Pour/apply the glue and roll over the piece cut on the concrete to solve lifting-up problems.
Regardless of the method of installation you choose, carpet over concrete floors provides warmth, elegance, and comfort you won’t get from other flooring materials.
Can You Glue Carpet To Concrete?
You can glue carpet to concrete floors either directly or via a pad. Direct glue-down installation is the most popular installation option in residential and commercial spaces. Ensure your concrete floor is clean and smooth before installation is carried out. One of the advantages of glued-down carpet installation is that the carpet is solidly held to the floors, providing a stable base perfect for rolling traffic and prevent carpet bunching-up problems.
The double glue-down carpet installation is almost similar to direct glue-down installation because they both involve the use of glue. The only difference is that with double glue down carpet installation, the carpet is first glued to the carpet pad before it’s glued to the concrete floor. You need to purchase tough pads designed specifically for double glue down carpet installation.
How to Glue Down Carpet to Concrete
Gluing down carpet directly on a concrete floor is a DIY project. If you have to install the carpet on the carpet pad before gluing it to the floor, you might need to get help from a professional carpet installer.
Here are the steps involved when gluing the carpet directly on the concrete floor:
Ste 1: Preparing concrete
The effectiveness of glue-down carpet installations depends on the condition of the concrete flooring. One of the biggest challenges of installing carpet on concrete floors is the degree of moisture that your carpet might be exposed to. So, before you install your carpet, make sure the concrete floor is clean and fully cured.
In addition, you need to fix cracks, chips, low and high spots, and other imperfections. If these imperfections are not fixed, the carpet is likely to wear and tear quickly.
Step 2: Preparing the carpet
The next thing you need to do before you install the carpet on the concrete carpet is to prepare the carpet. Unroll the carpet completely and leave it overnight to relax and breathe. In the morning, turn the carpet plush side down, spread it flat on the flat surface, face down.
Step 3: Measure and mark the carpet
The next thing you need to do is to measure and mark the carpet adding 0.5 feet to the length. Using a piece of caulk, mark the measurements on the back of the carpet. Use a straight edge to make sure the carpet edges are straight.
Step 4: Cut the carpet to measure
While the carpet is face-down, use a carpet knife to cut the carpet to fit the size of the room. Also, you need to make sure all the parts that go around cabinets are cut properly. Once the carpet is ready, re-roll it back out towards one side of the room.
Step 5: Gluing the carpet
Place the edge of the carpet you had cut and rolled against the width of the wall. Position it carefully so that the end of the carpet roll lies on the floor against the wall. In a nutshell, make sure the carpet is ready to roll out.
Use a trowel to apply a moderate layer (around 36 inches thick) of carpet adhesive or glue right in front of the carpet roll. Leave the adhesive to cure as per the manufacturer’s instructions.
Step 6: Roll the carpet over the glue
Roll the carpet carefully into the surface where you applied the adhesive. Make sure you press and flatten it using a flat board. Repeat the application of the glue on the floor and rolling the carpet across the entire room.
Step 6: Glue down the beginning edge
The beginning edges of the carpet where the roll was laid had not been glued. Now it’s time to glue those edges. Pull the edges of the carpet from the wall and apply the glue. Wait for the thin layer to cure and then push the carpet edges to the wall and flatten the edges using the board.
Step 7: Finishing
Once the entire room has been covered with glued-down carpet, the next thing you will need to do is to trim excess carpet from the edges where the wall meets the floor. Use a carpet knife to ensure the edges are cut into shape. Place heavy objects around the edges especially on the corners to hold the edges firmly to the ground and keep the carpet flat as the carpet glue continues to dry. Allow the objects to sit overnight to ensure the adhesive is dry.
Does Carpet Pad Need To Be Glued Down On Concrete?
You may choose to glue down carpet pads on the concrete floor or install the pads without using any adhesive or glue. If you choose to glue down the pad, you will need to use carpet adhesive or glue recommended by the carpet manufacturer.
Roll the carpet end towards one end where the wall meets the floor. Apply the carpet adhesive on the surface in front of the carpet roll. Wait for the glue to cure fully and then roll the carpet over the glued floor, smoothening and flattening out any bumps that may occur on the surface.
Installing a carpet pad on the concrete floor without adhesive or glue is quite straightforward. All you need is to secure the pad on the floor at the edges to prevent it from sliding. Install the wooden tack strips around the edges of the floor where the wall meets the floor. The straps are nailed to the subfloor. How far you nail the tack strips away from the wall will depend on the thickness of the carpet you will install.
