Get matched with top carpet installation pros in New Haven, MI

A transition piece between carpet stairs and wood flooring isn't always necessary. A transition piece separates two types of flooring in between rooms and areas, like carpet and vinyl. Because the carpet on the stairs tucks into the seam, you can’t see the fringes, and there is no need to hide anything. However, you can use a stair cap if your stairs have a nose.

In most cases, you don’t need to put anything under carpet tiles—unlike regular carpet, which often has a layer of carpet padding beneath it. Carpet tiles attach directly to the floor (as long as it’s a firm surface like plywood, concrete, or tile) with peel-and-stick adhesive, double-sided carpet tape, or carpet glue.

Because carpet tiles are designed to adhere to the subfloor directly, it’s usually not a good idea to install padding under them. Some carpet tiles come with padding attached to the tile if you prefer a cushier walking experience. In some cases, you can use a compact underlayment beneath your tiles, but you would likely need help from a pro to accomplish this type of installation.

The cost to install flooring is $2,990 on average, but the price range is between $1,500 and $4,460. You can expect to pay about $12.50 per square foot, but that can go as high as $22 per square foot for hardwood flooring. 

Factors like the size of your floor, the materials, and your geographic location will impact the total price. For example, the average cost of new flooring in Boston is between $1,200 and $3,250 while you can expect to pay between $2,000 and $5,700 for new flooring in Los Angeles.