|
How To Lay Carpet
By Jared Neilsen
How to lay a carpet
When you are considering how to lay a carpet you must at first decide how big a challenge you are undertaking. An area which is square shaped you will find easy to lay with carpet. Any area which requires you to join more than one section with another I advise you to consider getting a professional to lay your carpet.
On the contrary the hours spent laying your carpet are all worthwhile when you sink your feet into freshly laid carpet. Prior to getting your carpet, measure the area where the carpet shall be laid. This is crucial as you don't get second chances when you cut your carpet prior to the carpet being laid. You must organize a knee kicker, gripping strips, a Stanley knife, bolster chisel, underlay, carpet and hammer, face mask and knee pads.
How to lay carpet.
Before you can begin laying your carpet you must at first prepare the area on which the carpet shall be laid. Remove your previously laid carpet, underlay and gripper strips. You must begin with a flat surface so knock in any nails or lay sheets of hardboard on to first. If you are laying your carpet on concrete the concrete must be dry and it is advised you treat the concrete with a damp proofing sealant.
Begin by nailing new gripper strips around the room approximately 6mm from the edge of the room so you can tuck the edge of the carpet under the skirting board. These hold the carpet taught where it is laid and stop it from moving. Use masonry nails or a strong glue on a concrete floor.
Next lay a good quality underlay which will not only prolong the life of your new carpet but also helps it feel soft. The squiggly rubber side goes face down to grip the floor. Join the edges with a double sided carpet tape. Trim the underlay up to the grippers but not over them.
Rough cut the carpet you wish to lay about two inches oversize. Lay it out in your garden or whatsoever to ensure the size is correct. Remember how there is no going back once you cut your carpet so you must ensure the dimensions you measured are correct.
Unroll the carpet in the area where you wish to lay the aforementioned carpet. Line up one side of the carpet and attach to the gripper strips. Smooth out the creases in the carpet and use a knee kicker to stretch the carpet out to the opposite wall and attach this side to its grippers.
Working from the centre of the room outwards stretch out the small creases over the area which you laid the carpet with your hands. Fix the remaining sides to the grippers. Push the carpet into the skirting board gap and the gripper strips with a bolster chisel. Trim the excess carpet with a Stanley knife at a 45 degree angle from the skirting board. Change the blade frequently to avoid snagging and tearing of your freshly laid carpet.
Wear a pair of kneepads during laying your carpet as you will spend much of your time on your knees. Also wear a face mask and keep the room well ventilated afterwards as new carpets have a tendency to release volatile organic compounds (VOC's).
Now you know how to lay carpet, a skill which can be rewarding. Also now you can help friends learn how too!
Copyright © 2005-2006 HowToSite.Net and Accelerated Software Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
Any proprietary content contained in this document may not be copied in part or full without express written permission from the publisher.
Contact Us | Terms of Use
|
