OAG
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
The conversation with the sales rep went something like this:
Them - "Oh, you want that carpeting for $1.25 per square foot?. Ok, if you want it installed, that will be an additional $1.75 per square foot to install it - or we can install your entire house for $500. And that comes with free removal of your old carpeting."
Me - "No thanks, I just want my basement done, and there is no carpet there presently."
Them - "Oh, it is in your basement, are the tack strips already there?"
Me - "No, how much more is that"
Them - "Well, we add an additional $1 per square foot, but since it is in the basement, that would be $1.50 per square foot"
Me - "And if I did the tack strips myself, I could save that amount?"
Them - "Yes, many people do it that way"
Me - "Thank you"
...and that is where I am at present. I bought the tack strips I need for about $35 and plan to nail them down this weekend. Maybe have a party with the thousand bucks I save...lol.
I guess they do that so they can make some good money off of you and so they don't need to think about linear footage of the tack strips. Who knows...
I am sure you know how far from the walls to install them. Leaving an appropriage gap to ensure your carpet will "tuck in tightly".