Direct-stick (glue-down carpet installation)
Direct-stick carpet bonds directly to the subfloor with adhesive, no underlay. Used on stairs, over radiant heating, and in commercial-grade residential areas.
Ask Chalkline about this →Direct-stick (or glue-down) is a carpet installation method where the carpet is bonded directly to the prepared subfloor with adhesive, without a separate underlay layer. Adhesive is applied to the subfloor with a notched trowel, the carpet is pressed into the wet adhesive, rolled to achieve full contact, and seamed while adhesive is still open.
Direct-stick is the specified method for stairs (dimensional stability), carpet over radiant floor heating (underlay limits heat transfer and can void heating warranties), and some loop-pile and commercial-weight carpets where cushioned underlay would reduce performance. It is covered by AS 2455.1:2019 (verified 2026-05-10).
The alternative to direct-stick is smooth-edge (gripper rod) installation with underlay, which is the standard method for residential bedrooms and living areas.
Also known as: glue-down carpet, direct bond, direct-bond installation
Category: Floor coverings, installation method