I'm replacing the carpet in my fifth-wheel. I have a memory foam pad and am trying to visualize how this all goes together. Do I need to use a knee-kicker/stretcher for such a small space? (longest piece is 16' but only a few feet wide)They said the pad should be glued to the floor but I'm not using toxic products so I'm opting for tape. But on top of the pad, between that and the carpet do I need tape there also? I've read you tape there too. Seems if you have tape on it and set down the carpet the kicker will be working against the tape. I would think that just having the pad stuck to the floor would be enough. Then stretch the carpet over it and tack it down with a stapler and I'll be good to go -- no?And since it's a thick pad (1/2" memory foam) I'm thinking leave a little space at the edges as I'm not sure the staples will go through the pad and sufficiently tack the carpet to the floor. Then again it does compress. ? I'm definitely leaving room where the slides come up and over the center part of the floor. Cutting the pad short there.Not using tack strips. Don't have them under the carpet I have now. Any tips would be appreciated. Everyone seems to do this in a slightly different way. Thanks!

When using staples, take your time. Use your fingers to divide the yarn so that the staples go only through the backing, and do not pin down the yarn. Done properly, you will not see the staples, done otherwise,, you will see all the staples. Do not worry if your stapler does not drive the staples fully --- just use your hammer to drive them after placing with the stapler. this will also allow you to work out any yarn accidentally trapped under a staple.

First, nobody uses memory foam for flooring, that would be a mess. Most carpet pad is either rebond (pieces of recycled foam bonded together) or closed cell foam. You probably have the latter. You can staple the foam down with a wide crown stapler, glue it down, or not use anything. Allow some space around the perimeter so that you are stapling just through the rug and not the pad. Carpet is stapled with a narrow crown stapler, something a typical homeowner doesn't have. You can rent a narrow crown stapler at a rental yard. Stretching or kicking the carpet will get better results. A carpet kicker can be rented, also. Here's the usual procedure: Staple down pad and cover any seams with tape. Cut carpet allowing for 2" excess material around the perimeter. Staple edge of carpet along one edge. Kick carpet perpendicular to the first edge secured. Staple along the stretched edge. Kick carpet along the two remaining free edges, stretching and stapling as you go towards the final unattached corner. Trim carpet around perimeter. Trimming is done with an edge cutter and utility knife. You can install your carpet with any variation you want, of course. The above is the way a professional does it. I have installed 10K's of yds. of carpet.

Very helpful, and easy to understand --thank you Westend (you too Pepp). But as for the memory foam, it is memory foam. Top of the line. Just received it and it leaves an imprint when you press on it and will never leave dents in your carpet from chairs etc...Gets rave reviews from those who use it. I got mine from someone on eBay and they bungled the shipment so they refunded in full, including the shipping. ?! :) This takes you to the Home Depot page for the pad.

Has no smell to it at all...breathable moisure barrier, low VOC's, lifetime guarantee *and* completely recyclable. *boo-yah* :)

cannesdo wrote:Very helpful, and easy to understand --thank you Westend (you too Pepp). But as for the memory foam, it is memory foam. Top of the line. Just received it and it leaves an imprint when you press on it and will never leave dents in your carpet from chairs etc...Gets rave reviews from those who use it. I got mine from someone on eBay and they bungled the shipment so they refunded in full, including the shipping. ?! :) This takes you to the Home Depot page for the pad.I stand corrected. I had no idea that that type of foam is being used for carpet pad. It sends up a bunch of red flags for me, though. I've forgotten what they call the stitch used for rugs but basically you have a fiber that is stitched into a backing. Modern carpet is usually all plastic backed until you get into premium goods and some of that is still made with a natural fiber backing. As carpet is walked on, it compresses the fibers of the pile and stretches the backing. This is why with cheaper plastic backed rug, you'll see loose carpet or waves after the carpet has had some wear. A jute backing will stretch less and tends to shrink from age. Carpet that is installed by glue-direct will wear the least. That type of installation has no pad and is usually used in a commercial setting. The better foam pad is made from virgin closed cell foam. Next down the ladder is rebond, basically chopped and recycled foam pieces held together by adhesive. The better rebonds will have more glue and therefore, a higher density. And now we have a memory foam, a type of foam that has the most compressibility. I see that it is rated as 10 lb. density which would put it in the neighborhood of rebond pad. But now the memory foam has the "memory" part and doesn't spring back. This should allow the carpet to stretch more as it wears or is walked on. This is the red flag I'm seeing. It will be interesting to follow your exploits with the memory foam and to see how your carpet fairs. Who knows, that may be many years down the road.

Carpet installation question... | Good Sam Community

13 Replies

cannesdo
Explorer
Apr 09, 2014
Very helpful, and easy to understand --thank you Westend (you too Pepp). But as for the memory foam, it is memory foam. Top of the line. Just received it and it leaves an imprint when you press on it and will never leave dents in your carpet from chairs etc...Gets rave reviews from those who use it. I got mine from someone on eBay and they bungled the shipment so they refunded in full, including the shipping. ?! :)

This takes you to the Home Depot page for the pad.
westend
Explorer
Apr 09, 2014
First, nobody uses memory foam for flooring, that would be a mess. Most carpet pad is either rebond (pieces of recycled foam bonded together) or closed cell foam. You probably have the latter. You can staple the foam down with a wide crown stapler, glue it down, or not use anything. Allow some space around the perimeter so that you are stapling just through the rug and not the pad. Carpet is stapled with a narrow crown stapler, something a typical homeowner doesn't have. You can rent a narrow crown stapler at a rental yard. Stretching or kicking the carpet will get better results. A carpet kicker can be rented, also.

Here's the usual procedure: Staple down pad and cover any seams with tape. Cut carpet allowing for 2" excess material around the perimeter. Staple edge of carpet along one edge. Kick carpet perpendicular to the first edge secured. Staple along the stretched edge. Kick carpet along the two remaining free edges, stretching and stapling as you go towards the final unattached corner. Trim carpet around perimeter. Trimming is done with an edge cutter and utility knife.

You can install your carpet with any variation you want, of course. The above is the way a professional does it. I have installed 10K's of yds. of carpet.
Pepperoni
Explorer
Apr 09, 2014
When using staples, take your time. Use your fingers to divide the yarn so that the staples go only through the backing, and do not pin down the yarn. Done properly, you will not see the staples, done otherwise,, you will see all the staples. Do not worry if your stapler does not drive the staples fully --- just use your hammer to drive them after placing with the stapler. this will also allow you to work out any yarn accidentally trapped under a staple.

Forum Discussion

Carpet installation question...

13 Replies

About DIY Maintenance

Related Content

Inverter install

Truck Camper A/C instalation

INSTALL TILE TAKE UP CARPET

Inverter installation question.

Inverter installation question