Any ever have new carpet installed in their house?

[dogbert]

We tore ours up and took it to the dump ourselves. It wasn't a big deal just wear gloves and a mask, maybe some glasses to keep the stuff out of your face and eyes it flies around alot. It's heavy so men need to carry it or cut it into small pieces and have a truck or trailer ready to load. Our trash company would take it for a fee in small pieces the driver could load. We didn't want to have it in front of our house that long and their fee was more than the dump. We put down some hardwood and some carpet. I have a friend who's brother did it on the side, he does it for a living. Just make sure no seams on in high traffic areas. It's easier to tear out than put down. I think the worst part was pulling the little nails/tacks out of the floor one at a time where the old carpet pad was held down.

[Krystee]

Originally Posted by bonbon

I tore out the carpeting in my old house all by myself. Just get a good box knife & you can slice it into manageable sizes. But, it is a LOT of hard, dirty nasty work.

My plan was to also lay my new laminate flooring myself. My ex-husband knew a lot about repair & maintenance stuff, and I learned enough from him to be able to do many things around the house. But, I could not install the laminate. I bought one of the least expensive ones I could find but it was inexpensive for a reason - you couldn't snap it together nearly as easily as some of the better quality flooring. And really you need two sets of hands to install it. So, I had to hire someone to install it for me costing me another bunch of $$$$. Once it was done, my floors looked great & I loved them. It's sooooo much better than carpet! If you're thinking of laminate, spend a little more and get a better product. With 2 sets of hands you should be able to install it yourselves - but it will be a lot of work, too.

ETA: In my current house, I have stained concrete flooring throughout (the house was built that way). I love it! Never again will I live in a house with carpeting.

I was telling my husband that I saw a house on HGTV that had stained concrete floors and it was really pretty! It was stained a cherry brown color and looked as good (to me) as most wood floors. I will check around and see which laminate is best for keeping out liquid. I know there will still be accidents in the house and I would be so upset if my new floors got damaged.

[RowdysMom]

We have some stained concrete floors too, in the addition we built on a few years ago. I absolutely adore them!!! But I don't think it is practical to stain concrete that has had carpet or something else down, because they have to be sanded down so the concrete will take the stain. I know that would increase the costs. But I also know someone on YT a few years ago, that ripped out hte carpet and had the concrete stained. I have seen some painted concrete floors too, on HGTV. I don't know how well the paint would hold up though.

I know you are not wanting concrete floors, I was just replying that we had them and we love them.

[Krystee]

HUGE thanks to everyone for all the help! If we can make this happen then I am going to post pictures of my new lovely laminate floors! hehe.