How To Prepare Your Home For Carpet Installation
Preparing for carpet installation comes down to three jobs: clear what you can from each room, sort out old carpet removal when you get your quote, and give the installers clear access on the day. We handle the rest, from checking the subfloor to the final trim. Here’s the checklist we give customers before carpet installation in Canberra and Queanbeyan homes.
Queanbeyan Carpets has been family-owned since 1989, and the same third-generation team that quotes your job lays it, with no subcontractors. Most install-day hiccups we see come from small things that could have been sorted the week before.
How Do You Prepare for Carpet Installation? The Quick Answer
You clear the small and personal items and sort out access. We do the heavy and technical work. Here’s how the jobs split.
| You do | We do |
|---|---|
| Empty wardrobe floors, under-bed storage and bookshelves | Move most furniture as we work room to room |
| Pack away fragile, valuable and sentimental items | Lift and dispose of old carpet and underlay, if arranged at quote |
| Arrange moving of pianos and very large items beforehand | Check the subfloor for unevenness, moisture and a clean base |
| Mention stairs and old carpet removal at your quote | Fit smooth edge (gripper strips), lay underlay, stretch and secure the carpet |
| Sort parking, access, pets and kids on the day | Finish doorways and thresholds, then walk through the job with you |
Do You Need to Move Furniture and Empty Wardrobes Before Carpet Installation?
Our team can move most furniture, but clearing what you can (and arranging very large or built-in items beforehand) keeps the day moving. We’ll confirm what we’ll move when we measure up. The less we shuffle, the more time goes into your carpet.
Focus your own effort on the things we shouldn’t be handling:
- Wardrobe floors. Carpet usually runs into the robe, so shoes and boxes need to come out.
- Drawers and under-bed storage. Empty them so they’re lighter to move and nothing breaks.
- Fragile and valuable items. Pack away ornaments and anything sentimental, and unplug TVs and computers.
- Pianos and built-ins. Book specialist movers for pianos, and mention built-in wardrobes at your quote so we can plan around them.
The trade-off is simple: clearing rooms yourself costs you an afternoon, while leaving it all to us means more shuffling on the day.
Example: a family refreshing three bedrooms empties the robes and under-bed boxes the weekend before. On the day, the installers only move bed frames and dressers, and each room is ready as soon as the last is finished.
Who Removes the Old Carpet and Underlay?
Our team can lift and dispose of your old carpet and underlay as part of the installation. Ask about it when you request your quote, so it’s factored into the price rather than added on the day.
Old carpet comes up with its underlay, gripper strips and a scattering of staples. Without removal arranged, you’re left with heavy rolls and offcuts to deal with yourself.
Lifting it yourself? Tell us at the quote, wear gloves for the tack-lined gripper strips, and leave the subfloor as clean as you can.
Ask about offcuts of your new carpet at your quote too, as a usable piece can help with small repairs later.
Why Should New Carpet Settle Into a Canberra Home Before It’s Laid?
Carpet that travels from a warehouse into a cold Canberra home in winter can change dimensions slightly as it adjusts. Letting it sit in the room for around 24 hours before installation helps it settle, so it lies flat and stays tight once stretched.
Keep the house at a normal living temperature in the lead-up. If a home has been shut up cold, such as an empty rental between tenants, warm it up before we arrive.
We also check the subfloor before anything goes down, and what we look for depends on the home:
- Slab-on-ground homes, common in newer Gungahlin estates: we check for moisture, high spots and a clean surface.
- Older timber-floored homes, like many double-storey homes in Woden and Tuggeranong: we check for loose boards and raised nails, and plan for stairs and tighter access.
If we find a problem, we’ll talk you through it before any carpet is laid. Good prep also helps avoid some of the
most common carpet installation mistakes, like laying over an uneven or damp subfloor.
What Should You Do the Night Before and on Installation Day?
Work through this list and the installers can start the moment they arrive.
- Do a final sweep. Pick up anything left on the floors, including inside wardrobes.
- Clear parking and access. Leave space near the front door for the van, and clear hallways for carpet rolls.
- Check your doors. New carpet and underlay may sit higher than the old floor covering, so point out any low-clearance doors at your quote.
- Clear the stairs. We’ll have talked through pile style and fixing method at your quote.
- Plan for pets and kids. Tools, open doors and tack-lined gripper strips don’t mix with curious hands or paws.
- Open a few windows to clear dust and the new-carpet smell.
- Stay contactable, and be there at the end for a final walk-through.
Landlords should line up keys and tenant access ahead of time. If you’re planning around a move-in or lease date, our guide to how long carpet installation takes walks through the full timeline.
Ready for Install Day
The best prep happens at the quote: mention furniture, old carpet removal and stairs so they’re factored into your price and plan.
A little preparation goes a long way, and our team handles the rest of your
carpet installation in Canberra, from subfloor check to final trim. Every job carries our 12-month workmanship guarantee, plus the manufacturer’s warranty on your carpet. Not sure what needs moving or removing?
Book a free measure and quote and we’ll talk you through it on site.
FAQs
Do I need to vacuum the old carpet before the installers arrive?
It isn’t essential, because the old carpet is coming out anyway. A quick vacuum does cut down the dust that lifts when we pull it up, which helps if you’re home or have allergies.
Will my doors need trimming?
Possibly. New carpet and underlay can sit higher than your old floor covering, so doors that already sit close to the floor may catch. Point out any doors you’re unsure about at your quote and we’ll check the clearances and talk you through your options.
Should I be home during the installation?
You don’t need to stay in the room, but someone should be there when we arrive to confirm which rooms are being done, and again at the end for a final walk-through. If you can’t be home, arrange access ahead of time and stay contactable by phone.
What should I do with pets on the day?
Keep pets well away from the rooms being worked on. Doors are often left open while carpet comes in, and tools and tack-lined gripper strips can hurt paws. A closed-off room, a crate or a day at a friend’s place all work well until we’ve packed up.
