For best carpet installation results, consider carpet type, pad type and method. We frequently have discussed the pros and cons of buying the right carpet and pad, but have been remiss in covering the finer points of the installation.

Nothing can make a finished carpet job look worse than poorly hidden seams. So, a prime consideration when discussing carpet installation with a vendor is his or her seam guarantee. That is how well the seams will be hidden.

Generally carpet is available in 12-foot-wide rolls. Not a problem if all the rooms in a home are 12 feet wide or less. For this article, we will assume that there is at least one room in the home that is wider than 12 feet.

The carpet installer has three major concerns: first, to ensure that all of the carpet being installed will run in the same direction; second, to ensure that all seams will be located out of view and away from heavily trafficked locations and, finally, to minimize waste. With a better grade of carpet, the seam can be made invisible more easily than with lesser quality carpeting. However, as time passes wear and tear can make even the best seam begin to show. Again, this makes it important to place the seam out of traffic areas. Depending upon the direction from which it is viewed, carpet can change colors dramatically. Laying each piece of carpet in the same direction helps maintain an appearance of uniform color and texture, and yet can require making several seams.

For example: Let's imagine carpeting a room that is 14 feet wide and 16 feet long (Remember: carpet comes in 12 foot widths). We will need a 12-foot-wide roll of carpet that is 20 feet long 16 feet to make one run the full length of the room and an extra 4 feet that can be cut into patches to fill the 2-foot area that is left between the edge of the first piece of carpet and the wall. The 4 by 12 piece is then trimmed into four 2-foot-wide pieces each 4 feet long. Some waste will result. The four 4-foot lengths laid end to end and along the edge of the larger piece are used to fill in the leftover space. This will require the installer to join one 16-foot-long seam and three 2-foot seams. There would be no waste if the total length of the carpet were 19 instead of 20-feet long. Six 3-foot-long pieces could be used alongside the main piece for a total of six seams instead of the four in our first example. We prefer an installation with fewer seams.

However, depending on the carpet, the extra seams might not be a problem. Bottom line: Remember that seams that are poorly done can ruin a good carpet job. Regardless of carpet quality, all pieces should run in the same direction to ensure even color and texture.