When shopping for carpetingand for many other types of floor coveringsoffers for free or included installation abound.
It’s a tempting deal.
What can be better than free, especially forexpensive purchaseslike whole-housecarpeting?
The Spruce / Kevin Norris
As withall types of flooring, you will incur installation costs.
However, usually, installation costs are baked into the carpet’s cost.
In other cases, it might be better to pay for installation separately.
Learn more details about free carpet installation and carpet installation fees in this guide.
You will pay for transitions, padding, and carpeting.
That’s why you rarely find bargain-priced orclearance carpetingwith installation included.
However, better padding has many benefits: your carpet will last longer and feel more comfortable.
Cost of Carpet Installation
Carpet installation costsan average of $6.35 per square foot.
However, if you’re installing carpet yourself, find out if the manufacturers warranty remains intact.
Many companies dont cover DIY carpet installation.
Is Included Installation a Good Offer?
How can you determine if the free installation offer is a good deal?
When comparing the free installation offer against other companies' offers, separate materials from labor.
Here’s an example based on realistic costs.
Imagine that you want to carpet a 1,000-square-foot space.
Materials for the job will cost $2,240, including taxes, for a total of $2,240.
Most free installation offers apply only to carpeting andlaminate flooring.
Certain types of heavy furniture or furniture that are attached to floors or walls will not be moved.
Carpeting installers will not remove wet bars, large built-in shelves, or bookcases.
Removing Hard Flooring
Removing old carpeting is challenging but manageable by a floor installation crew.
You’ll need to contract out this project to another service provider.
Subfloor Preparation
Hopefully, you will have asubfloorand underlayment system suitable for your new floor.
If not, hire a contractor or contract the flooring company to perform this service.
Small areas need to be leveled and can be addressed inexpensively with a liquid, pour-on self-leveling compound.
Larger areas need carpentry work and can be expensive.
Touch-ups and Repairs
Some walls and baseboards may become scuffed during installation.
Installers do their best to avoid scuffs but if they appear the homeowner typically fixes or cleans them.
It’s less expensive to install carpet yourself but it is typically not a DIY project and very time-consuming.
Installation involves unrolling heavy and unwieldy carpeting, pressing the edges intotack strips, and working with specialized tools.
Most carpet installers will clean up debris and remove the old carpet from your home.
How much does it cost to install or replace a carpet?HomeAdvisor.
