How to Install Carpet Tiles

If you have a high traffic room in your house or an area where your kids (or pet) hang out, installing carpet tiles might be the answer.
 
Carpet tiles are easy to remove and replace. Carpet tiles that are stained beyond repair can be lifted out and replaced in a matter of minutes.

If you've thought about installing carpet, but were put off by the disruption and difficulty of traditional carpet, you'll be happy to find that carpet tiles are easy to install. An average sized room can be fully carpeted in less than a day by one or two people.

What You'll Need:

• Measuring tape
• Carpenter's square
• Chalk line
• Utility knife
• Carpet tiles

  Two sided tape or provided adhesive material

Calculate How Many Tiles Are Required
Measure the length and width of your room. Multiply these two measurements to determine the square footage of your room. If your room is irregularly shaped, try to break it into smaller rectangles and add the areas of the rectangles together.

Once you've calculated your square footage, a carpet tile provider can tell you how many tiles to use. Always buy more tiles than you need-think about getting 10% extra. You'll want to have extra carpet tiles for cutting mistakes and to replace stained or damaged tiles.

Start With A Clean Slate (Or Floor)
Before you begin installing carpet tiles, move all furniture, area rugs and old carpeting. Vacuum or sweep the floor, removing all dirt, dust and any stains or adhesives.

Find Your Center
You'll need to locate the exact center of your room before installing carpet tiles. To find the center of the room:

• Snap a chalk line from each set of opposite corners of the room, making an "X" on the floor.
• Using a measuring tape, find and mark the center of each wall.
• Snap a chalk line from opposite wall midpoints through the intersection of the "X".
• Marvel at the beauty and grandeur of the overlapping "X" and "+" on the floor of your room.

Establish Your Baseline
You'll want to place carpet tiles on the floor without adhesive as a "dry run" to make sure your alignment is correct.

Place carpet tiles along the chalk lines that form the "+" sign. Fit the tiles tightly together and make sure that one side lines up with the chalk lines. Stop your line at the last full carpet tile.

Some carpet tiles have arrows on the back that indicate which direction the tiles should lay. It doesn't matter which direction the arrow point, but they should all point in the same direction as you lay the carpet tiles out.

Start Sticking!
When you're happy with the alignment of your baseline, you can begin fixing your carpet tiles to the floor. Different manufacturers have different methods for fixing carpet tiles. If your carpet tiles come with an adhesive backing or come with supplied adhesives, follow the manufacturer's directions.

If your carpet tiles come without adhesives, apply two-sided tape to the floor in an 8 to 12 inch grid pattern over the empty rectangles created by your baseline.

Lay carpet tiles from the center toward the room corners using the adhesive system appropriate for your carpet tiles. Continue laying carpet tiles until you've placed all the whole tiles you can fit on the floor.

Cut To Fit
Once you've placed all of your whole carpet tiles, you'll probably need to cut tiles to fit the edges.

• To measure a tile for cutting, lay the tile so that the backing faces up.
• Place the tile against the wall and mark where it crosses the last tile you've already put down.
• Place the carpet tile on a piece of scrap wood or heavy cardboard with the backing side up.
• Using a carpenter's square for a straight edge cut the carpet tile to fit against the wall.
• Continue to measure and cut carpet tile around the edge of the room.