• The stretch-in carpet installation method is the most common method of installing carpet.carpet roller image by Greg Pickens from Fotolia.com
  
  The process of installing carpet through the stretch-in method is similar to that of the glue-down method, but there are differences, such as in the way the carpet is attached to the floor. The equipment and preparation needed for the installation of stretch-in carpet and glue-down carpet also differ.
  
  

Attaching the Carpet

• Stretch-in carpet is only attached around the edges, while glue-down carpet is glued down in all areas of the carpet. Installation of stretch-in carpet, as the name implies, requires stretching of the carpet to reach a tackless strip placed all around the edges of the room. Since glue-down carpet is attached all along the lower surface, it must be weighed down or even temporarily nailed in as the glue dries.
  
  

When to Use

• According to Find Any Floor, the stretch-in carpet installation method is the most common method of installing carpet. This method is appropriate for the majority of carpeting applications. Glue-down carpeting, however, is best suited for certain situations. For example, glue-down carpeting is best suited for outdoor use, since it holds up better under humidity. In addition, glue-down carpet prevents slipping on ramps and stairs or in areas with high traffic or office equipment that would cause wrinkles or rips in stretch-in carpet.
  
  

Installation

• Glue-down carpet, once cut to the appropriate shape, is pressed into the layer of glue on a cleaned and prepared floor. The carpet is then held down by weights, carpet tacks or nails as it dries. Glue-down carpet typically uses no padding, while stretch-in carpet is installed over a layer of padding. Stretch-in carpet also uses equipment such as a knee kicker and a carpet stretcher to help ensure that the carpet is stretched to capacity during installation. Finally, after installation, glue-down carpet requires up to two days for the glue to dry. In contrast, stretch-in carpeting is ready for use immediately upon installation.