Having new carpet installed can greatly improve the look and comfort of your home. Just like any home improvement project, you want to plan well so you know exactly what you are getting into. Will you have new carpet laid throughout your home, or in a few select rooms? Are there old flooring materials that will need to be removed, carpet or otherwise? These are factors that will need to be considered.
Carpet installation projects are not the type that require a great deal of skill, but that doesn’t mean it’s a simple task. Care must be taken in preparing the room, measuring precisely, and then applying first the padding and then the carpet. Most homeowners would be able to successfully install carpet in a small room, but larger rooms require special tools. These tools can be rented, but professionals won’t have a learning curve in the way. This is one area where DIY mistakes can get expensive.
What’s this going to cost me?
The cost of your carpet installation project will vary with several factors, including the material used. Carpet costs range from the inexpensive to high-end materials to those considered luxury products.
Carpet can be purchased for as little as around $2 or $3 per square foot. Mid range prices tend to be around $6 to $8 per square foot, while choices in luxury carpeting are priced at $10 to $13 per square foot.
One strategy to keep costs down, if time is not a pressing factor, is to try to find out when different vendors may have sales and wait for the best prices.
Another item affecting your budget will be the removal and disposal of old flooring materials. This is usually priced by the foot or yard, but may also include a charge for taking old material to a landfill. If saving money is more important to you than how you spend your time, you could reduce your budget by doing much of this work yourself.
Labor costs will be one of the most significant items in your budget. This is usually calculated by the square foot and will vary depending on the type of room in which the installer is working. Installers will charge more for laying carpet up a circular stairwell than for completing a carpet installation project in a large room.
Good communication
Once you select a carpet installer, establish good communication with them from the start. Be sure you are clear what you expect. Make sure you understand what your installer needs in order to complete the installation in a timely manner. Be sure they give you an estimate that is as detailed as possible. Ask if there is anything you can do to make the work proceed more smoothly. Be sure that the installer has as little interference as possible when working. Make sure family members know when the contractors will be present to minimize delays as much as possible. Good planning, good preparation and good communication will all help keep your carpet installation project on budget and on schedule.
Top image credit: Centurion Carpet Cleaning
