Is DIY carpet installation worth it?

For most Ottawa homes the answer is no. A proper carpet install needs a power stretcher, kicker, seam iron, tack strips, and binding tools – rented gear runs $200 to $400 a weekend, and the result still looks DIY at the seams and stairs.

Where DIY tends to fail:

• Stretch isn't tight enough, so ripples appear within a year
• Seams are visible because the pile direction is off
• Stairs are mitred badly and wear through fast
• Furniture moving and disposal eats the labour savings

A professional install on a typical room runs $1 to $2 per sq ft. Compared to lifting and redoing a botched DIY job – or paying for a re-stretch a year later – it's almost always cheaper to book it out.