I'm a builder, but not the typical "Checkbook and cell phone" builder. I do a lot of my own work, including all hard surface flooring, tile, wood, laminate, etc.... that said, I see no logical reason for me to do my own carpet laying. There are many things needed to do a long lasting, quality install including experience, skill, a well trained helper, specialized tools and installation materials, and a desire to bust your ass on your hands and knees. typically it takes my installers about ten hours to do three bedrooms, all the closets and hallways on my new homes. The carpet store pays $3-400 for this long day, and the job looks great and wears well. It would take me 3X as long, and several trips to the carpet supplier and rental yard. The time/$ math here simply doesn't make sense. Whatever you do, don't get hosed by ending up at the big box store, or a carpet chain with a multi zillion dollar ad budget, and the "Free installation" game. Quality installers work for themselves, or for quality dealers. My buddy has owned two sucessful stores for 20+ years now. He. and his sales folks, will tell you that not a week goes by without a call from a big box customer with a totally F'd up job, willing to pay anything to get it repaired. The problem is that it usually involves a total restretch, with the proper power stretching equipment. Often this just won't work, as the job is simply too screwed up to repair.
