How To Fit A Carpet At Home DIY Style

Learning how to fit a carpet involves a few things that you will need to get to grips with. The two main factors are: –

• Which type of carpet to purchase
• Which type of padding or underlay to use.

Knowing what kind of underlay or padding you need will also help determine the proper cut and size of the carpet, depending on the style and shape of the room you are placing the carpeting.

The thickness of the underlay or padding you use will be determined by the thickness of the carpet you buy and the underlay/pad you buy. There are a number of different types of underlay available for purchase, including carpet pads made from foam, polyester, rubber, and other synthetic materials. And most often the thickness of the underlay you choose will be determined by the manufacturer of the carpet you purchase.

When it comes to the cuts of the carpeting, you should know that most manufacturers allow for various measurements. These measurements can be in inches, square feet, or room dimensions. Most companies will accept any standard measuring tape and will even provide instructions on how to measure for the padding. If you are providing your own padding then be sure to add extra so that you do not inadvertently cut off any edges of the carpeting. Measuring the underlay or padding will also be helpful in determining if you are using the correct amounts. This will help eliminate the extra tackiness that can result from using less than the recommended amount.

Different Carpet Types

With all the cuts and measurements taken care of, it is time to move onto the measurements for the carpet itself. The measurements for carpets come in three categories: cut pile, loop pile, and plush pile. Each type has its own benefits and drawbacks. Each type of carpet installation has its own specific instructions for installation.

Cut-Pile Carpet

This type of carpet is one of the most common due to the ease of cutting. It is often installed by a professional installer, since the cut-pile method is one of the easiest. The cut pile carpet is cut by the carpet-installer in such a way that all the seams are hidden. There are no seams on the per square meter side of the carpet. This type of carpets have no backing, which means no dirt can be seen through the fabric. They are easily washable and are available in a wide variety of colors.

Loop-Pile Carpet

These carpets are often referred to as cut-and-fold or press-fit carpets. They are installed by an individual because they do not require any measurements or cutting. The loops or piping are installed diagonally with each loop positioned neatly above the last loop. The installation is done by using staples or hooks to install the loops. Once the loop has been fixed, the rest of the carpet is installed in the same way. They are good quality carpet and the installation takes just a few minutes.

Flat Pipe Carpet

The flat-pipe carpet is made by joining two pipe-wires which have been bent together and joined with the help of glue. The first loop is fixed and the last loop is fitted over it. There are no seams and thus this type of carpet looks very professional. This installation process is quite simple but it does require a few tools and is time consuming. This carpet is easily washable and is available in different colors.

Fitting The Carpet

Measuring Your Floor

Before you start the installation process, make sure you have the right amount of room measured and the carpet dimensions measured. Most carpet manufacturers’ websites will give you a copy of the square footage of the entire floor area along with the width, length, and depth of the room. Some will also provide you with a copy of the room’s surface plan. The numbers on the square footage and the surface plan correspond to the right measurements for your carpet dimensions.

Cutting The Carpet

After you have the measurements, you can cut the carpet using a carpet-shaping knife and nails or staples depending on the type of carpet that you have chosen. It is recommended to use nails or staples for thicker carpets since they offer a stronger bond to the carpet fibers. You can then install the carpet either hanging or without the underlay.

Cutting The Carpet

Once you have cut the carpet, you can fit it in place. As a DIY job, you won’t be able to get the same finish as a professional installer because you won’t likely have the stretching tool. If you are just after a DIY nice looking job, you can fit into place using gripper strips if it is a Hessian backed carpet or stick it into place if it is a foam backed carpet.