Carpet Fitting
Discussion
Has anyone on here fitted carpet before?
I've got a small area to do & instead of paying someone to come in and do it i thought i'd have a crack @ doing it myself as it's just a bog standard square room.
I've watched a couple of tutorial vids on Youtube & it seems fairly straightfoward!
Any novices had a go before?
Where's the cheapest place to buy the Underlay & gripper from?
I've got a small area to do & instead of paying someone to come in and do it i thought i'd have a crack @ doing it myself as it's just a bog standard square room.
I've watched a couple of tutorial vids on Youtube & it seems fairly straightfoward!
Any novices had a go before?
Where's the cheapest place to buy the Underlay & gripper from?
It's a piece of piss!
I've now laid 5 carpets including a hall, stairs and landing!
www.tradepriced.co.uk/
Here is where I bought my kicker (first one came from b&q) and underlay from.
Gripper should be installed roughly a carpet's thickness away from the skirting, if installing on a concrete floor different grippers will be needed (still nails in just with toughened pins instead of nails)
Start on the longest straight wall you have, orient the carpet so that it is straight (patterns, as well as the tuft pattern) and secure to the gripper with a hammer and cold chisel (wide, blunt chisel about 3" wide)by hammering the carpet down the gap between gripper and skirting.
Once you have one wall secured you can start on the stretch. Work from one side to the other position the kicker about six inches from the wall and let rip with the knee, this will stretch the carpet and the downward pressure you exert will make sure the carpet grabs onto the gripper. Once you have stretched the carpet grab a tuft in the centre of the carpet and pull upwards, if the carpet is tight enough it wont rise like a low-profile tent!
For cutting, use a new blade (end) for each wall. Insert the blade so that it runs into the gap underneath your skirting (the front of a stanley knife fits snugly against the corner) and pull it from wall to wall, any pipes for radiators need to be carefully cut round. Start with the carpet folded hard against the pipe, then make a straight cut towards the edge of the carpet, once cut, cut a small circle out to accomodate the pipe and arrange the carpet around it, the cut should disappear round the back of the pipe.
Can't think of anything else to mention, except good luck!
I've now laid 5 carpets including a hall, stairs and landing!
www.tradepriced.co.uk/
Here is where I bought my kicker (first one came from b&q) and underlay from.
Gripper should be installed roughly a carpet's thickness away from the skirting, if installing on a concrete floor different grippers will be needed (still nails in just with toughened pins instead of nails)
Start on the longest straight wall you have, orient the carpet so that it is straight (patterns, as well as the tuft pattern) and secure to the gripper with a hammer and cold chisel (wide, blunt chisel about 3" wide)by hammering the carpet down the gap between gripper and skirting.
Once you have one wall secured you can start on the stretch. Work from one side to the other position the kicker about six inches from the wall and let rip with the knee, this will stretch the carpet and the downward pressure you exert will make sure the carpet grabs onto the gripper. Once you have stretched the carpet grab a tuft in the centre of the carpet and pull upwards, if the carpet is tight enough it wont rise like a low-profile tent!
For cutting, use a new blade (end) for each wall. Insert the blade so that it runs into the gap underneath your skirting (the front of a stanley knife fits snugly against the corner) and pull it from wall to wall, any pipes for radiators need to be carefully cut round. Start with the carpet folded hard against the pipe, then make a straight cut towards the edge of the carpet, once cut, cut a small circle out to accomodate the pipe and arrange the carpet around it, the cut should disappear round the back of the pipe.
Can't think of anything else to mention, except good luck!
Simpo Two said:
freecar said:
Insert the blade so that it runs into the gap underneath your skirting (the front of a stanley knife fits snugly against the corner) and pull it from wall to wall
That's the bit where you'll find you've just cut it short by 5mm 
Busamav said:
Simpo Two said:
freecar said:
Insert the blade so that it runs into the gap underneath your skirting (the front of a stanley knife fits snugly against the corner) and pull it from wall to wall
That's the bit where you'll find you've just cut it short by 5mm Gripper nails aren't long enough to hit central heating pipes, water underfloor heating with a concrete floor you'd use glued grippers.
I found it really easy, can't lay linoleum for love nor money though!
i use a footlong piece of hardboard slid down between the carpet and skirting to trim the carpet against. slide it along as you go, and cut the carpet off a quarter of an inch higher than base level to leave a bit you tuck under the bottom edge of your skirting board.
It's well doable with a bit of practice, but knackering!
It's well doable with a bit of practice, but knackering!
Thecarpetfitter
freecar said:
Busamav said:
Simpo Two said:
freecar said:
Insert the blade so that it runs into the gap underneath your skirting (the front of a stanley knife fits snugly against the corner) and pull it from wall to wall
That's the bit where you'll find you've just cut it short by 5mm Gripper nails aren't long enough to hit central heating pipes
I'm going to have a crack at this myself... I'm prepared (so far) to do everything but fit the actual carpet!
Regarding skirting, i'm replacing it. do i need to keep a slight gap between the bare floor and the bottom of the skirting? so the carpet can tuck under it a bit? Or does it but up to it?
Thanks
Regarding skirting, i'm replacing it. do i need to keep a slight gap between the bare floor and the bottom of the skirting? so the carpet can tuck under it a bit? Or does it but up to it?
Thanks
philmots said:
I'm going to have a crack at this myself... I'm prepared (so far) to do everything but fit the actual carpet!
Regarding skirting, i'm replacing it. do i need to keep a slight gap between the bare floor and the bottom of the skirting? so the carpet can tuck under it a bit? Or does it but up to it?
Thanks
Don't leave a gap. you will find dust will travel underneath and leave the carpet with a black line around the edges if you do. take the skirtings to the bottom and whack a line of silicone around for good measure Regarding skirting, i'm replacing it. do i need to keep a slight gap between the bare floor and the bottom of the skirting? so the carpet can tuck under it a bit? Or does it but up to it?
Thanks
Gassing Station | Homes, Gardens and DIY | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff