Carpets, Lino & Flooring

Advice on (novice) carpet laying - should I avoid it?

Anonymous user 28/02/2024 - 3.00 PM

I'm looking for some advice Damn character limit. I've needed to edit this. If I've lacked any information, please do ask for it. Long story short: I am thinking of carpeting my front room. By this, I mean buying the carpet, then fitting it myself. I have absolutely no experience, other than what I have read on the internet. I also have no desire to rent stretchers (or is it a gripper? - a thingy to pull the carpet taut), or even a knee kick thing. It's 3.3m by 4.3m. There's two doors, one of which goes into the garden. The measurements are of the widest points, so are the max that I think would be needed, and also includes a little extra (10-15cm). The floor I think is concrete. I say I think, as it doesn't feel as hard as I would've though. It's definitely a porous mix of something similar to concrete at least. This floor also has underfloor heating (Another reason why I am not sure if its concrete or not). I have two ways I would do it. The first is just to line it up, trim it, then stick it with adhesive. The second is to just line it up with one wall, use the tacking strips (websites say I need them - 1/2 inch from the skirting board), place the required amount of carpet in the gap, push it under, then pull it tight as I could. I would then do the same on the other side. Trimming with a Stanley knife when finished. I'd also just use spray/spreadable adhesive (as I'm planning a felt back carpet). I'd need to join the seem (as far as I can make out, carpet is normally around 4m) - I'd use the tape on the floor, heat it (hairdryer or something), then lay it together and hope for the best. I'd also do this in a lower traffic area of the front room. And so the question really; is this an absolutely stupid idea? Please do feel free to express yourself (as freely and honestly as the website permits!). As long as the carpet is safe, doesn't look awful, and lasts for a few years, I would be happy. I'm currently a student, and money is tight. In about a year or so, I'm hoping to be working, and would happily replace the carpet if needed (to something more luxurious!). I wouldn't want to bank on it though, just in case.

Jason Nicholls Flooring

Rating: 5 out of 5

5/5253 reviews

Harlow

Hi Carpet would only cost £40 to £60 to fit depending on location of your job and fitter you get. So in the long run I would say put the job on this site get in a carpet fitter. Will take a carpet fitter less than an hour when it could take you all day and end up not looking good and begin unsafe. Hope that helps Jason @ J R Floors of Waltham Cross

Answered5 January 2014

Like

8

---

Anonymous user

Anyway, under floor heating, you need to glue it, buy a can of spray from B & Q. Let it relax in the room and let it flatten and acclimatise and get any creases out ( that way you won't need a kicker ) It's a rental and you are a student. Even though it's not rocket science; unless you are a rocket science graduate ? You are probably at this stage more informed than most fitters. Cut the waste to the minimum, score with a blunt tool ( not another student ) from the front of the carpet and then from the back of the crap stuff you have bought, cut along the scored line, you have made. Then spray the floor with the B & Q spray.

Answered8 August 2014

Like

4

---

Skyber Flooring

Rating: 5 out of 5

5/5304 reviews

Leeds

Let’s go back to the size of the room and the material to be installed. 1. There is no need for a joint in the carpet. 2. It would be much cheaper to buy a 5lm width carpet. 3. Do not nail any gripper in place with underfloor heating. 4. The correct way to install felt-back carpet is to stick them down. 5. The correct adhesive is Ball F3 6. Position carpet with all edges lapped up the wall and past the door ways. 7. Fold half the carpet back on itself on to the other half of carpet. 8. Proceed the spread the adhesive to the sub-floor accordingly to the manufactures recommendations. 9. The half of carpet you folded back earlier now fold back and place in adhesive. 10. Rub the carpet from the centre of that half to the perimeter to remove any lines creases. 11. Now repeat (7, 8, 9. 10) on the other half of the carpet. 12. Now you should be nearly ready for cutting the excess carpet. Rub the carpet again all over from the centre outwards. 13.score the carpet at the perimeter of Skirtings to form a crease. This will make it easer for you cut the carpet. Use a straight Stanley blade ensuring it’s sharp and new. 14. The point of the blade need to pressed in the corners firmly with the flat part of the blade slightly towards the wall. Good luck with this one.

Answered27 October 2020

Like

1

---

G&D carpets

Rating: 5 out of 5

5/5197 reviews

Pontefract

I agree mostly with the above method. But certainly wouldn't advise you use any spreadable glue if the carpet isn't going to be in position very long as getting it up would be much more challenging then putting it down. Instead get 1-2 cans of spray adhesive and follow all the steps provided apart from spreadable glue

Answered31 January 2022

Like

0

---