National Average Improvement and Repair Cost
Pro
DIY
Hours:
4.2
9.5
Cost:
$ 801
$ 500
Would you do this project? According to our survey, 41% of respondents preferred DIY compared to hiring a pro.
The average price to Install Carpeting noted above is cost data to compare a contractor’s estimate with doing it yourself.
How much does it cost to have carpeting installed? A carpet installer charges $801 to install carpeting or do it yourself for $500 and save 37 percent.
To create an almost instant makeover, install wall-to-wall carpeting and you’ll be amazed at how it changes the appearance of a room. Whether you’re replacing old carpeting or covering flooring material, the transition can provide color, texture, and dimension to the room. Since it covers such a large area, it unifies the space and provides a continuous backdrop for furniture.
The choice of carpet styles and grades can be overwhelming, so spend time seeing what’s available in your price range at a carpet retailer or home center. The Carpet and Rug Institute tells us that two-thirds of all carpeting sold today is made of nylon because it’s durable and resists staining and mildew. Choose a carpet padding to reduce noise and promote a longer lasting carpet because it absorbs impact.
Ask the dealer for Class 1 cushion in light traffic rooms like a bedroom and Class 2 cushion in heavy-traffic rooms like the den or family room. Your costs will likely include padding, carpeting to cover your space, and installation, plus an additional charge if old carpeting has to be removed and disposed of. If you’re able-bodied, you can do that part of the job, especially if your garbage service will haul it away.
To have good-quality nylon carpeting and padding installed in a 12-by-15-foot room, expect to pay $801, which includes the labor and material. Installers will be in and out in half a day. You can purchase the 180 square feet of carpeting and rent a carpet stretcher, knee-kicker, and seaming iron for $500 and do it yourself. That’s a 37 percent saving and it will take the better part of a day.
Don’t underestimate the time and energy it takes to prepare the room by removing all the furnishings and vacuuming the floor. If you choose a long-pile carpeting or thick padding, the door in the room may require some carpentry work to shorten it; that involves removing the door from its hinges and trimming off the bottom so it clears the new carpeting.
Mohawk has advice about Trends in Carpeting Colors.
That sums it up. Knowing the average cost to install carpeting lets you compare doing it yourself with what you can expect to pay a contractor.
