Installation Tips

We recommend all of our latex backed natural plant fibre floor coverings using the 'double stick' method. 

This involves glueing a suitable underlay to your subfloor, and then glueing your chosen natural plant fibre floor covering on top of the underlay. Short pinned or blind (no pins) gripper should still be used around the perimeter of your room to help secure your floor covering in place; your fitter may even decide to staple your floor coverings around the edge to the gripper for extra security. 

Any exposed edges, at doorways for example, should be protected with either metal door bars or wooden threshold trips.  

Our Alternative Retail Partners have experienced, professional fitters who are conversant with our natural fibre floor coverings. They will be able to guide you through selecting suitable underlays, adhesives, grippers and any extras if required, based on your specific location and requirements. To find your local Alternative Retail Partner please click here. 

Before choosing a natural plant fibre floor covering for your stairs, either as fully fitted carpet or as a bespoke stair runner, please check the products suitability; not all of our natural plant fibres are suitable for use on stairs. Please be aware that we will not consider any complaints for floor coverings fitted on stairs that we have not recommended for such purpose. 

If your chosen floor covering is suitable for use on stairs, then, if latex backed, it will need to be installed using the 'double stick' method. This is where blank or short pinned gripper is initially secured close to the crotch of each step - the bit where the tread (the flat bit) meets the riser. A suitable underlay is then laid and glued in place from the gripper, across the tread, over the stair nose and down the riser to meet the next gripper. Your chosen floor covering is then glued to the underlay on the tread of the step. The floor covering should then be pulled over the nose of the step, down the riser and bolstered tightly into the gripper at the crotch of the next step before being glued to the next tread.

Please note, in areas of heavy use, or in commercial situations, we would recommend the use of stair nosings. In addition to this, if you have chosen to have your natural fibre floor covering installed as an edge-to-edge carpet on your stair we would suggest that a suitable seam sealer is used at the side edges to help prevent fraying. 

Your floor covering can either be tightly fitted to each step and moulded to the 'nose' and riser, known as the 'American' or 'Hollywood' method; or can be loosely flowed over the nose of each step and down the riser, known as the 'Waterfall' method. Your Alternative Retail Partner will be able to discuss each option in more detail with you and make a suggestion based on your chosen floor covering and specific style of staircase. 

If your space is over the maximum width of your chosen floor covering, often acceptable, but visible joins can be achieved. This will all depend on the floor covering chosen and your specific space. Your Alternative Retail Partner will be able to discuss this in more detail with you if required. 

The joy of carpet is having warmth and texture underfoot.

Underfloor heating can make your carpet extra snuggly, but there are things to consider when choosing your flooring.

The main thing to consider is tog value of the carpet. The tog is a measure of thermal insulation also known as thermal resistance. The tog value of the carpet plus the tog value of the underlay should not exceed 2.5 tog; any more than this, will limit the transfer of heat through the carpet and underlay.

Therefore, your choice of carpet and underlay are important factors when discussing installation plans with you selected retail partner.

We do, however, also suggest that you contact your underfloor heating manufacturer for their recommendations, and to ensure that the combined tog value of both the carpet and the underlay is suitable for your chosen heating system.

We recommend that all of our floor coverings are installed by professional carpet fitters. Luckily all of our Retail Partners are fully conversant with our carpets, offering expert advice and always happy to help.

Find your local Alternative Retail Partner using our handy Where to buy. 

Before starting installation, your Alternative Retail Partner should ensure:

1. The sub-floor is dry, level, sound and dust-free and prepared to British Standards (BS 5325: 2021)
2. The floor covering is checked to ensure it is the correct material, the right size and there are no visible defects. Your retailer MUST check your floor covering BEFORE CUTTING. Once the floor covering has been cut, you have agreed it is acceptable. 
3. Before installation, ensure that there are no sources of excessive moisture in the area the floor covering is to be laid, such as damp walls. 

All of our wool carpets should be able to be conventionally fitted by one of our experienced, professional Alternative Retail Partners. 

In brief, conventional fitting involves using a suitable gripper which is fixed to your sub floor around the perimeter of your room. A suitable underlay is then laid out within the area, stapled and cut back to the gripper. Any joins in the underlay should be taped together. Your chosen wool carpet can then be laid in place, anchored, stretched to create suitable tension and trimmed. Once trimmed the edges will be neatly tucked down into the gripper.

This traditional stretch fit method should be suitable for a majority of our carpets up to around 25m2; some of the softer backed carpets may be able to be stretched to a larger size. If not, then your carpet fitter may suggest using the 'double stick' method instead (the method used for our latex backed natural plant fibre floor coverings.) Your retailer will be able to discuss this in more detail with you, based on your chosen wool carpet and requirements. 

Our Alternative Retail Partners have experienced, professional fitters who are conversant with our wool carpets. They will be able to guide you through selecting suitable underlays, grippers and any extras if required, based on your specific location and requirements. To find your local Alternative Retail Partner please click here. 

Please bear in mind that on some of our flat woven wool carpets, our Barefoot Collection and carpets with stiffer backs, we would suggest that your fitter considers using the 'double stick' method rather than conventional (or traditional) installation methods; particularly if your space is larger than 25m2. Your Alternative Retail Partner will be able to discuss this in more detail with you based on your chosen floor covering and your specific space. 

If you are considering one of our flatweave wool carpets, such as Wool Iconic, Wool Herringbone or Wool Hygge, and your space is larger than the maximum width of the carpet, then please be aware that joining (or seaming) these products is not recommended. Where possible only use these flat woven carpets in spaces where they can be installed in a single width. 

We would also be cautious when it comes to joining (or seaming) one of our beautiful Barefoot wool carpets. Our Barefoot Collection of carpets are all crafted on traditional hand-looms; this means that there can be variations in pile height, texture and appearance. These carpets are also made from predominantly blended, not dyed, woollen yarn therefore variations in colour are also to be expected. Therefore, it can be quite tricky to join two pieces of Barefoot wool carpet together and in most cases, not possible to achieve an invisible join. 

Before choosing a wool carpet for your stairs, either as fully fitted carpet or as a bespoke stair runner, please check the products suitability; not all of our wool carpets are suitable for use on stairs. Please be aware that we will not consider any complaints for floor coverings fitted on stairs that we have not recommended for such purpose. 

If your chosen wool carpet is suitable for stairs, then it can be fitted in the conventional way. This involves placing gripper at the crotch of each step - this is where the tread (the flat bit) meets the riser. Underlay is then laid 'gripper to gripper' and simply stapled in place. Your chosen carpet is then laid over the underlay and bolstered into the grippers to create tension. On some ranges, such as our flatweave carpets, if you have chosen to have it installed as an edge-to-edge carpet on a stair (as opposed to a bound central runner) we would suggest that a suitable seam sealer is used at the side edges to help prevent fraying. 

Your floor covering can either be tightly fitted to each step and moulded to the 'nose' and riser, known as the 'American' or 'Hollywood' method; or can be loosely flowed over the nose of each step and down the riser, known as the 'Waterfall' method. Your Alternative Retail Partner will be able to discuss each option in more detail with you and make a suggestion based on your chosen wool carpet and specific style of staircase. 

Please bear in mind, that depending on the wool carpet you have chosen, for example those with a stiffer backing, your retailer may advise that it should be glued to the underlay on the treads of each step. We rely on the experience and expertise of our Alternative Retail Partners to ensure you have the best advice for your specific needs. 

The joy of carpet is having warmth and texture underfoot.

Underfloor heating can make your carpet extra snuggly, but there are things to consider when choosing your flooring.

The main thing to consider is tog value of the carpet. The tog is a measure of thermal insulation also known as thermal resistance. The tog value of the carpet plus the tog value of the underlay should not exceed 2.5 tog; any more than this, will limit the transfer of heat through the carpet and underlay.

Therefore, your choice of carpet and underlay are important factors when discussing installation plans with you selected retail partner.

We do, however, also suggest that you contact your underfloor heating manufacturer for their recommendations, and to ensure that the combined tog value of both the carpet and the underlay is suitable for your chosen heating system.

We recommend that all of our floor coverings are installed by professional carpet fitters. Luckily all of our Retail Partners are fully conversant with our carpets, offering expert advice and always happy to help.

Find your local Alternative Retail Partner using our handy Where to buy. 

Before starting installation, your Alternative Retail Partner should ensure:

1. The sub-floor is dry, level, sound and dust-free and prepared to British Standards (BS 5325: 2021)
2. The floor covering is checked to ensure it is the correct material, the right size and there are no visible defects. Irregularities in the weave, colour variations, slubs, tufts and knots are part of the natural charm of the product and as such are not manufacturing defects or valid cause for complaint. Your retailer MUST check your floor covering BEFORE CUTTING. Once the floor covering has been cut, you have agreed it is acceptable. 
3. Your floor covering should be acclimatised in the area it is to be laid for at least 24 hours*. This involves un-wrapping and loosely rolling the flooring. 
4. Before installation, ensure that there are no sources of excessive moisture in the area the floor covering is to be laid, such as damp walls. 

*48 hours when the environment is particularly cold.

Although we would normally recommend using a 'double stick' method, smaller rooms can be fitted traditionally using conventional methods.

For our faux carpet collections, we would suggest that for all areas under 25m2 your carpet can be installed using conventional methods. If your area is over 25m2 then we would recommend using the 'double stick' method. 

Our Alternative Retail Partners have experienced, professional fitters who are conversant with our faux floor coverings. They will be able to guide you through selecting suitable underlays, adhesives, grippers and any extras if required, based on your specific location and requirements. To find your local Alternative Retail Partner please click here. 

Before choosing a faux floor covering for your stairs, either as fully fitted carpet or as a bespoke stair runner, please check the products suitability; not all of our faux carpet ranges are suitable for use on stairs. Please be aware that we will not consider any complaints for floor coverings fitted on stairs that we have not recommended for such purpose. 

If suitable, your faux flooring can be installed on stairs using the 'double stick' method. In brief, this is where short pinned or blind (no pin) gripper is used on each step and a suitable underlay is laid and secured to each step, gripper to gripper. Your faux flooring will then be glued to the underlay, sticking it to each step and bolstering into the grippers to create tension. 

Please note, in areas of heavy use, or in commercial situations, we would recommend the use of stair nosings. In addition to this, if you have chosen to have your faux floor covering installed as an edge-to-edge carpet on your stair we would suggest that a suitable seam sealer is used at the side edges to help prevent fraying. 

Your floor covering can either be tightly fitted to each step and moulded to the 'nose' and riser, known as the 'American' or 'Hollywood' method; or can be loosely flowed over the nose of each step and down the riser, known as the 'Waterfall' method. Your Alternative Retail Partner will be able to discuss each option in more detail with you and make a suggestion based on your chosen floor covering and specific style of staircase. 

The joy of carpet is having warmth and texture underfoot.

Underfloor heating can make your carpet extra snuggly, but there are things to consider when choosing your flooring.

The main thing to consider is tog value of the carpet. The tog is a measure of thermal insulation also known as thermal resistance. The tog value of the carpet plus the tog value of the underlay should not exceed 2.5 tog; any more than this, will limit the transfer of heat through the carpet and underlay.

Therefore, your choice of carpet and underlay are important factors when discussing installation plans with you selected retail partner.

We do, however, also suggest that you contact your underfloor heating manufacturer for their recommendations, and to ensure that the combined tog value of both the carpet and the underlay is suitable for your chosen heating system.

Our Anywhere collection of faux carpets can be used outside. If using outdoors, the subfloor should be suitably dry and installation should be a 'direct stick' method. 

Your Alternative Retail Partner will be able to discuss this in more detail with you. 

Please note, our Anywhere collection of faux floor coverings is a flatweave product and does not have a sealed selvedge which allows it to be joined in the conventional way. Therefore, Alternative Flooring do not recommend joining this product and will not recognise any warranty claims made due to poor seaming. If a join is unavoidable, and you are prepared to undertake the risk, then using the direct stick method would deliver the best results. 

Your Alternative Retail Partner will be able to discuss this in more detail with you if required. 

We recommend that all of our floor coverings are installed by professional carpet fitters. Luckily all of our Retail Partners are fully conversant with our carpets, offering expert advice and always happy to help.

Find your local Alternative Retail Partner using our handy Where to buy.