Like the underlay, the carpet also needs to be prepared for laying before you start to spread the adhesive.

Again, always follow the recommendations set out by the manufacturer in their installation guide.

It not only provides sound advice, it will also help to protect you if something goes wrong.

In addition to the manufacturer's instructions, you also need to comply with provisions set out in AS 2455 - particularly if the Standard is referenced in the contract with the client.

Australian Standard 2455

AS 2455 says that the preferred ambient temperature at the time of installation is between 10° C and 35° C.

If the temperature is outside these limits, you should check the manufacturer's recommendations before proceeding.

Section 3.1 of the Standard lists some considerations that you should take into account when you're planning the layout and deciding where to start. These are summarised below.

Where possible:

1. Run seams the length of the area, with the traffic going in the direction of the seams, rather than across the seams
   
   
2. Run seams towards windows, so that the outside light doesn't strike across the seams
   
   
3. Face the pile direction away from the main source of light, and towards the main entry point to the area
   
   
4. On stairs, have the pile direction facing towards the leading stair edge
   
   
5. Put the full width of the roll on the door side and align the selvedge (side edge) seams accurately throughout the installation
   
   
6. If there is a different floor covering on the other side of the doorway, join the two coverings underneath the closed door
   
   
7. Put fill-outs (part widths) on the opposite side of the room from the door, and avoid having a fill-out in between full widths, unless the situation is unusual.

Note, however, that most of these decisions should already have been made and agreed on with the client.

The floor covering plan should show you the placements of seams and cross joins, direction of pile lay and other details, and it is likely that the client will have seen the plan and signed off against it.