Stretch, seams and stairs
Carpet has to be stretched properly over tack strip, not just laid and trimmed. Under stretched carpet ripples within a year, usually in the traffic path where you notice it most.
Seams get placed away from doorways and high traffic lines where possible, and they get sealed so the edges cannot fray.
Stairs are the real test. We wrap the nosing and tuck the carpet tight into each riser, because stapled and loosely fitted stairs wear through at the front edge first and look bad within two winters.
Underpad and basement considerations
The underpad affects how the carpet feels and how long it lasts. A thin builder pad under a good carpet is a false economy, and we quote a specific pad rather than leaving it vague.
In basements, carpet directly on a slab is a mistake in this climate, because the slab is cold and holds moisture. We install a subfloor panel first, which lifts the carpet off the concrete and makes the room usable in February.
If the basement has a moisture history we recommend vinyl plank instead and say why, even though carpet would be an easier sale.
Allergies, pets and what to expect
Carpet holds more dust and dander than hard flooring, which matters in a house with allergies. Low pile with a tighter construction is easier to keep clean than a deep plush.
For homes with pets we usually recommend hard flooring in the main traffic areas and carpet limited to bedrooms and stairs, which gives you the comfort without the cleaning problem.
What a carpet installation quote includes
- Removal and disposal: old carpet and pad taken away.
- Subfloor check: squeaks fixed and any damaged sheet replaced.
- Carpet and pad spec: both named, not just the carpet.
- Seam plan: where seams fall and how they are sealed.
- Stairs: priced per flight, wrapped installation stated.
- Transitions: thresholds where carpet meets hard flooring.
Where carpet installation sits in the bigger job
This work is part of our flooring contractor service, so it can run on its own or as one stage inside a larger project. When it is part of a bigger renovation we sequence it with the other trades rather than treating it as a standalone visit.
Clients booking this often pair it with hardwood floor installation, floor refinishing, vinyl plank flooring installation or tile floor installation. One contract covers whichever combination you need, with a single schedule and one point of contact.
Carpet Installation across the Ottawa area
We take this work on throughout the greater Ottawa area. Recent jobs have run through Nepean, Merivale, South Keys, Kanata and the surrounding neighbourhoods. The consultation is free wherever you are in the city.