Carpet Installation

Carpet remains the warmest, quietest, and most comfortable flooring option for New Brunswick bedrooms, family rooms, and basement recreation areas — spaces where barefoot comfort matters more than water resistance. In NB's climate, where heating season stretches from October through April and indoor temperatures must be maintained against sub-zero outdoor conditions, carpet provides measurable thermal insulation (R-value of 1.0-2.

0 depending on pile density) and eliminates the cold-floor sensation that hard surfaces produce in winter mornings. The underpad beneath carpet is equally important — a quality 8-pound density, 7/16-inch thick underpad extends carpet life by 50%, provides additional insulation and sound dampening, and creates the plush feel underfoot that makes carpet appealing.

Professional carpet installation involves precise room measurement, seam planning (seams should fall in low-traffic areas and perpendicular to windows to minimize visibility), cutting and fitting around closets, doorways, and stair returns, and power stretching with a knee-kicker and carpet stretcher to ensure the carpet is taut across the entire room.

Wrinkles and bumps from inadequate stretching are the most common quality issue with carpet installation — they create trip hazards and accelerate wear along the ridges. For NB basements, carpet selection requires special consideration. Moisture migration through concrete slabs is common in Maritime construction, and conventional carpet with jute or felt backing can develop mould and mildew odours when installed directly on concrete.

Solutions include synthetic-backed carpet installed over a moisture-resistant underpad, carpet tiles with sealed backing that can be removed and replaced if water intrusion occurs, or a dimpled subfloor membrane beneath the underpad to create an air gap between concrete and carpet. Carpet pricing in New Brunswick runs $2-$6 per square foot for materials (nylon being the most durable and popular fibre at $3-$5) with underpad adding $0.50-$1.50 per square foot.

Professional installation labour in NB is $1-$3 per square foot. A standard NB master bedroom (180 square feet) carpeted with quality nylon and premium underpad costs $800 to $1,800 installed. A full basement recreation area (400-600 square feet) runs $2,000 to $5,000 depending on moisture mitigation requirements.