Rugs, Carpets and Carpeting - I want to lay my own carpet
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cheese
05-04-02, 03:39 PM
Hi!
My wife has presented a project to me, lol, and it looks like I'm gonna play carpet layer this weekend. I have a room that is 13 x 22 and am going to attempt to lay short cut-pile carpet in it. The tack strips are good, the padding is only 3 yrs old and good. I just mainly need advice on cutting the carpet the correct way, especially for the seams. I also would like some advice on the use of the knee-kicker and steam iron for seaming. I want good seams, as the room sees lots of traffic daily. I am a true blue DIY'er and usually succeed because I try to take every precaution to do the job right. I need a crash course, lol. Can you guys/gals give me some pointers?
My wife has presented a project to me, lol, and it looks like I'm gonna play carpet layer this weekend. I have a room that is 13 x 22 and am going to attempt to lay short cut-pile carpet in it. The tack strips are good, the padding is only 3 yrs old and good. I just mainly need advice on cutting the carpet the correct way, especially for the seams. I also would like some advice on the use of the knee-kicker and steam iron for seaming. I want good seams, as the room sees lots of traffic daily. I am a true blue DIY'er and usually succeed because I try to take every precaution to do the job right. I need a crash course, lol. Can you guys/gals give me some pointers?
Carpets Done Wright
05-04-02, 09:19 PM
Putting a seam together, is art work. I hope you have a lot of carpet to practice on before you actually put the seam in the room together.
Row cutting is the best way to cut seams, so they are invisable, went put together.
Latex seam sealer the cut edges of the seam on both side, and let it dry. Place a hard surface under the carpet at the seam area 10"x4' Cardboard works good for this seam board. Move the board as you progress with your seam. It helps the thermoplastic on the tape penetrate the backing much better then making the seam directly on top of the pad.
There are multiple pages to this topic on this forum. You may have to go back a few pages but it is all there several times.
A knee kicker is not a tool for stretching carpets properly. It is a positioning tool to get the carpet in place and positioned before using a POLE STRETCHER to actually put the proper stretch on the carpet, as specified by the manufacturer. A knee kicker will only hurt you!
Row cutting is the best way to cut seams, so they are invisable, went put together.
Latex seam sealer the cut edges of the seam on both side, and let it dry. Place a hard surface under the carpet at the seam area 10"x4' Cardboard works good for this seam board. Move the board as you progress with your seam. It helps the thermoplastic on the tape penetrate the backing much better then making the seam directly on top of the pad.
There are multiple pages to this topic on this forum. You may have to go back a few pages but it is all there several times.
A knee kicker is not a tool for stretching carpets properly. It is a positioning tool to get the carpet in place and positioned before using a POLE STRETCHER to actually put the proper stretch on the carpet, as specified by the manufacturer. A knee kicker will only hurt you!
cheese
05-06-02, 01:31 AM
Thank you for the reply. I have postponed the project so that I don't rush into this without any knowledge. I will practice on some pieces first, and learn about the pole stretcher. I tried to get a pro to install it for me, but I think I can do as well or better, and besides...the pros are booked up for some time. I don't want to wait a month to get carpet installed, lol. Thanks again, I will post back with the results.