• There is no need for a carpet roller when laying carpet tiles.carpet roller image by Greg Pickens from Fotolia.com
  
  Laying carpet tiles is a simple do-it-yourself project that gives the look of wall to wall carpet at a fraction of the cost. Installing the tile is much less work than tacking and spreading carpet. Most homeowners can complete the project in as little as a day. Though specialized equipment is not needed, there are a few handy tools needed to complete the project smoothly.
  
  

Measuring Tape

• Before getting started, find out the amount of tile needed to do the job. Use a regular measuring tape to measures the length and width of the room in feet. Make sure to measure the furthest points. So, if there is a bay window or alcove, use that point of the room when making the measurement. Multiple the length and width of the room together to find out the square feet of the space. Carpet tiles come in square foot pieces. Therefore the square footage of the room is the number of pieces needed. Buy about 10 percent more tiles than needed in case a mistake is made with a cut. Store any extras for later. The beauty of carpet tile is that a stained piece is easily removed and replaced, leaving the carpet like new.
  
  

Chalk Line

• The best way to lay wall-to-wall carpet tile is to start in the middle of the room. To find the centerpoint a chalk line is helpful. Snap a chalk line from one corner of the room to the other. Do the same at the opposite corners. Where the lines cross is the center of the room and the starting point
  
  

Masking Tape

• Once the chalk line is places, a more permanent visual of the line makes tiling easier. Carefully cover the chalk line with masking tape to reinforce the chalk line. This prevents the chalk line from rubbing off when the tile is laid. The masking tape lines help make a dry run of the tiles, placing them in one quadrant and working from the corners out. It will also serve as a guide when permanently laying the tile.
  
  

Utility Knife

• Carpet tiles need to be cut to fit at the edges of the room and around obstacles like air ducts. Use a utility knife with a sharp blade to cut the carpet tile. Mark the tile on the back with a marker. Score the line with the utility knife in a continous stroke to cut the tile.
  
  

T-square

• To ensure a straight cut, a T-square or straight edge is needed. T-squares come in handy because the top of the T sits on the top of the square, ensuring a straight cut. This tool lessons the chances of ill-fitting pieces, saving time and money on wasted pieces.