Installing the wrong type of padding could have negative effects. The pad will likely have one side that is shiny or smoother than the other; this is the side that faces up. If you're installing over wood floors the moisture barrier goes up to prevent spills from soaking into the padding. Some carpet paddings have a webbing or moisture barrier coating on one side. Tack down the padding with a stapler. Unroll additional pieces of carpeting into position to cover the floor. If in doubt, ask your carpet salesperson (and don't be embarrassed; it is a question that gets asked a lot). Using a hammer, nail down tack strips around the perimeter of the room. The reason for this smooth side is so that the carpet can easily slide across the pad when installing it. Make relief cuts at corners so the carpet lies flat. If using the waffle pad style of carpet pad, the “waffle side” of the carpeting pad should be face up for maximum cushioning and it is cut to fit inside the tackless strips with about ¼” gap so that the carpet itself can be attached to the tackless strips and the padding does not interfere with the securing of the carpet. Basements usually have concrete floors, and concrete is an ideal substrate for adhesive-bonded carpeting. Furthermore, it may void the carpet manufacturer's warranty. Cut the 1-inch-wide strips to length using a small handsaw or special wood snips. Keep about 3-inches lapping up the wall. After removing all the furniture and old floor covering from the room, cover the wood subfloor with carpet padding. Unroll the carpet with the backing face-down along the wall onto the padding in the room. Cut from the top using a carpet knife. How to Install a Basement Carpet With No Padding. The carpeting may wrinkle or buckle, the seams may separate, and its structure can break down faster than it would with the proper padding.