The type of carpet material has a real impact on how well it performs. Joseph Lewitin is a flooring expert who contributed home improvement content for The Spruce for four years. After years of perusing FLOR’s catalog and website, I finally bit the bullet and ordered the carpet tiles for my entryway and kitchen. By using our site, you agree to our. If one is using a removable blade knife, make sure to insert a new blade before getting started. You should start fitting your carpet along the longest wall and work back towards to door. A more permanent fix than hot glue. A straight edge is going to be necessary to guide your knife along the edge of the carpet. These tools feature durable edges and automated cutting action, which can help you sidestep the difficulty of doing it manually. 1. As you move down the seam with the iron, roll over the joined seam behind the iron, using a seam roller to press the carpet edges into the tape adhesive and ensure they lie flat. There are 15 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. Cutting the carpet every few feet will be useful for large or oddly-shaped rooms where you’re unable to remove it in one piece. Place a board or scrap of plywood underneath the rolled-back edge to protect the carpet below from the knife blade. 3. Cutting carpet is mostly a matter of getting through the backing, which is the hard, flat side that lays flush against the floor. You can use this product to end to cut carpet and alternatively to jam carpet into gullies. The carpet used for the patterns should be of the same type and texture as the background carpet. This allows the piece to be placed in the room perfectly square. Leave the weights in place until the adhesive sets. 4.4 out of 5 stars 327. Use clips, cans, books, etc to weigh glued edges down for a minimum of an hour. Carefully butt the two edges of the carpet together as tightly as possible. Cut the carpet down to size if you need to, but leave at least 50mm extra around the edges. This article has been viewed 83,498 times. When you cut carpet, you need to make sure that you cut it straight. Beyond that, it’s simply a matter of taking your time to avoid mishaps and see that the carpet blends seamlessly with the layout of the room. Carpet prices may even include the cost of installation. The final result should be a carpet surface that appears nearly unbroken, with the pile threads hiding the seam. Finally cut edge carpet tiles to fit neatly to walls and skirting: General Maintenance. Use a putty knife to chip away at one edge until there’s enough to grab hold of. Dig out any remaining staples or dried clumps of adhesive with a floor scraper. A very uniform, straight cutting line is essential to make the seam as invisible as possible. Get the edge bound by overlocking it. Simply peeling the carpet back and cutting the underside of it along that border you just marked should work just fine. The key to a tight-fitting, professional-looking seam is to start with a double-cutting technique that matches the two edges perfectly. These general carpet types come in a range of styles and heights.. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. How To Cut, Fit and Shape Automotive Carpet February 4, 2019 Roadkill Customs How To & DIY This video demonstrates (on a mock-up for ease of instruction) several traditionally used techniques to cut, fit and shape the front and rear of a transmission tunnel using non-heat molded, non-backed automotive carpet. It's regarded as an advanced project, suitable for advanced DIYers who are patient and willing to take a bit of a risk. With one pitiful rug pad and two overly-welcoming dogs that rush the front door every time they hear a noise — I was forever straightening, fixing and flattening the front rug. If your carpet is tacked down with staples or adhesive, it may take a little effort to get it started by hand. A shop vac is the best way to collect dust, stray threads and other materials that are left lying around after removal. Next, place the tip of a utility knife against the carpet backing and press until it pierces the backing. Place a straightedge along ​the edge of the cut carpet, and use the knife to cut through the bottom piece of carpet, slicing through only a single row of threads, as before. While it is simple enough to cut carpet with a utility knife or carpet shears, there are methods you can use to streamline the process and ensure that your cuts are efficient and clean, rather than ragged and time-consuming. Of course running the wires under the carpet can cause premature wear on the carpet when people walk on them or worse still could ignite the carpet and torch your living room. Keep your wrist fixed to avoid making sloppy or uneven cuts. Spillages should be cleaned immediately with a damp cloth before allowing to dry. Seaming normally occurs after the carpet pad and tackless strips are installed. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 83,498 times. You might also choose to pull on a facemask, if you’re sensitive to dust. % of people told us that this article helped them. To save yourself the pain of lifting it all at once, cut it into easy-to-manage pieces with a utility knife: Cut carpet from the back, instead of from the fiber side, and make sure your blade is sharp and new. The most common choices for carpet finishing are binding, serging, and fringing. I want to cut a runner, but what do I do to protect the cut edge? Cut a small "V" into one corner of the carpet. If you’re using a utility knife with a removable blade, take a minute to insert a new one before you get started. Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series, The Spruce Gardening & Plant Care Review Board, The Spruce Renovations and Repair Review Board. Carpet types can be divided into: c ut pile;; loop pile; or; a combination of both to create a cut and loop construction. Just push the edge of the carpet down into the gap all the way across the door and trim any strings off. Continue seaming the carpet until you reach the end of the seam. Following a seam will help you make straight, steady cuts. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. Carpet installation is not a very common do-it-yourself project, mostly because professional installation is quite affordable. Be sure to cut down a single line of backing threads as you work. thick and have a density/weight rating of at least 6 lbs. A utility knife with a sharp blade was then used to score a cut line along the straight edge. Cut the carpet on the back edge with a carpet knife and a straightedge. Then, drag the blade in a straight line towards you. Use a utility knife to cut out the rug, pressing firmly. The blade will be dangerously sharp, and even the slightest slip might result in serious injury. Cut the extra carpet the size you want it. It is very useful with its features of being an easy-open knob with bail. Step 4 Measure the carpet against the wall, and trim the carpet with your utility knife so that there is just enough carpet to fold over the top of the … Get it as soon as Thu, Nov 19. Seaming carpet like a pro requires precise cuts and proper seaming technique using heat-activated carpet seaming tape and a seaming iron. Lay out the two carpet pieces side by side so they overlap by about 3 inches. Position the cut carpet in the room, fitting the factory cut edge against the first wall, followed by the other sides. Again, take care to make the cut as straight as possible. There is the best carpet cutter available in the market. This proves to be one of the best way to cut carpet. You might also use a handheld electric carpet cutting tool. Make sure that the pile is facing the same direction in both pieces. Throughout your project, make sure to change the blade as soon as it gets dull so you can work as safely and efficiently as possible. Lay the newly cut edge of carpet back down over the uncut piece. Center a line of carpet seaming tape underneath the two cut edges of the two pieces of carpet, with the adhesive side facing up. Carpet installation—and seaming in particular—can be a somewhat tricky project for DIYers, especially beginners. Do not use C, J, L, or U Go for X, K, T, V, and as a last resort, you can use a Y. After the carpet is stretched onto the tack strip and cut to the correct size, it needs to be tucked down into the gap. To cut carpet for installation, start by unrolling the carpet so that the backside is facing up. 78. Get daily tips and tricks for making your best home. Use a Straight Edge. Considering that professional carpet installation typically adds less than $1 per square foot to the overall cost, many homeowners who attempt to install a carpet with seams resolve never to do it again. Use the back edge of a Stanley knife blade to push this crease well into the joint where the carpet meets the floor. Most rolls of carpet come in widths of 12 feet, so be sure to take this into account when plotting out the best way to cover the floor. Pry up the metal nosing and remove it, if present. The diameter of a standard can is a good guideline for the size of a replacement piece. Lay the newly cut edge of carpet back down over the uncut piece. Here are a few tips for cutting carpet straight. Since you’ll be throwing the old carpet out, there’s no need for precision or delicacy here. Using the same can or container, press it down firmly over the damage. Regular daily vacuuming is recommended. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. Leave the weights on the seam for another 15 minutes before removing them. Don’t get into too big of a hurry—that’s how accidents happen. These tools can be leased at the same tool rental outlets and home centers where you lease the carpet stretcher and other tools required for DIY carpet installation. The pile of a carpet describes its individual fibres. Cut Carpet into Corner. Measure your workspace twice to make sure you have the dimensions right. I use a hook bill to do this. It may be helpful to perform a mockup of the cuts you intend to make on a scrap piece of cardboard first. It should still overlap the bottom piece by about 2 inches. Once it is in place, cut a vertical line the excess directly above the corners and trim the overlapping triangles so you can lay the carpet flat onto the gripper. Take a 1" strip of contrasting fabric, use E6000 Fabric Fuse and glue 1/2" on front of the carpet. Be extremely cautious when handling your utility knife. If you don’t have the benefit of a straightedge, try feeling for one of the seams in the underside of the backing. There's no reason to get overly complicated with how you cut … The Problem: I have gone through about five different rugs in my entryway. Cut the carpet pad under the carpet with a utility knife so that it ends flush against the edge of the tackless strip. also tuck the carpet into the ends where the carpet … If you must cut the carpet, the preferred letter is an X. There are carpet overlockers listed in the phone directory, or try a Google search. On the backside, measure 1 inch in from its outer edge and mark the backing at 12-inch intervals down the length of the edge. Therefore, we are able to cut carpet straight and accurately. Install the folded carpet edges with carpet tacks every inch or so to prevent lifting. It may seem like a hassle to have to keep stopping to change blades, but it will save you considerable time and labor in the long run. Whether you’re putting it in or pulling it up, knowing the finer points of cutting carpet can save you valuable time and expense. Don’t jam the blade into the carpet too deeply. If not, cut the carpet near the top of the top stair riser. Unless you’re planning on repurposing your old carpet, it can simply be thrown away once the project is complete. The carpet seam tape you'll need can be purchased from home centers and online retailers. References. Cut through the painter's tape and carpet with a utility knife. Grab the cut end of carpet and pull it from the stairs using gloved hands. Then use another length of marked tape to identify the direction of the nap near the damaged area of the carpet. This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. A few carpet-cutting techniques in your arsenal of skills allows you to cut both straight edges and tricky shapes with confidence. The seams must be secure before the carpet is stretched out over the perimeter tackless strips and trimmed to fit along the baseboards. Carpet can be extremely heavy to handle, especially if you’re tackling a lot of square footage. Appropriate care and maintenance is essential to appearance retention and longevity of the carpet tiles. But for those DIYers who do try it, the trickiest part of carpet installation is creating seams between butting pieces of carpet. Mark the backing with a pencil or permanent marker to indicate where you need to cut, or simply use the intersecting seams as a handy visual reference. Cutting carpet may seem like a straightforward task, but there's an art to getting the job done right. wikiHow's. After rolling, place heavy objects such, as large books, over the rolled area of the seam to hold the carpet in place. All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. 2. By working with another person, you’ll be able to lay or pull up carpet twice as fast. The key measurements you'll need to know to assess a carpet's durability are its density – how closely knitted together its fibres are – and its pile height. Few homeowners will have any need to own the specialty tools required for seaming a carpet, such as the seaming iron and seam roller. Other letters are shown below. Flip It When it comes to cutting carpet of any type, flipping it over first makes the job immensely easier. If you are using carpet padding, cut the padding 1¼ inch short of the edge so that it does not extend under the folded carpet edges. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. You may have to make 2 passes with the knife. This will be the most important (and possibly the only) tool you’ll need to cut carpet. This carpet cutter is the ideal tool for cutting carpets accurately and efficiently. It should still overlap the bottom piece by about 2 inches. Doorway seams and other transitions can be difficult to cut and place correctly. Once the carpet has been cut and unfastened, you can simply roll it up, carry it out and dispose of it. Carpet tack strips can usually remain in place but look for rust, rot or other damage. A chalk line can be helpful for transferring longer measurements. To find the inner area of the room, multiply the length of the room (in feet) by the width. A good-quality pad will be 3/8 to 1/2 in. The main thing to remember is to use a knife that’s sharp enough to allow you to work quickly and with the necessary accuracy and control. Folding the carpet will also create a more secure cutting surface, preventing you from scarring the flooring underneath. The goal is to keep the cut-out area (image 2) as small as possible but still allow car… It's possible to cut it from the front, but much more difficult. Move the iron slowly and steadily down the seam and across the tape, allowing it to linger just long enough to activate the adhesive at each point. Depending on the type of tape you use, you might need to heat it for several minutes to begin activating the adhesive on the seam tape. This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. Keep cutting more off the edges of the "V" until the carpet fits flat on the floor. Lay a straightedge along the chalk line, and cut through the carpet with a carpet knife or utility knife, using the straightedge as a guide for the knife. If you want to make an area rug from a carpet remnant or from a swath of broadloom carpet off a roll, there are several options for finishing the edges to prevent fraying. Then secure a metal straight edge along the cut line. Carefully cut along the outline with a utility knife (image 1). Repeat this process with the remaining three corners. Finally, We Install Your Perfectly Cut Flooring. Last Updated: March 29, 2019 Standard carpeting is typically sold in 12- and 15-foot wide rolls, which means that carpeting large rooms will usually require that you use two pieces and seam them together. The quality of carpet pad is determined by density, not thickness. The loops of yarn tend to get in the way, and it's much easier to botch the cut. The wrong pad can cut the life of your carpet in half. A standard utility knife is preferable, though something like an X-Acto knife or razor can also do the trick. HOT TIP: Place both your hands on the utility knife while cutting carpet so that you don’t cut your FINGER OFF. Cut out the background rug, placing the carpet on corrugated cardboard or other surface that cannot be damaged if cut with a blade. Use tape marked with an arrow to indicate the direction of the carpet's nap on the repair piece. Lay the carpet back side up and take a hot glue gun and run a half inch bead of hot glue all along the edges careful not to spill over just along the carpet backing is all you need. The roll itself can serve as a convenient reference for tracing straight lines. Trim off the frayed edges. If you're having trouble, use your utility knife to separate the carpet where it connects to the baseboards. Carpet is a common type of flooring material used in indoor and outdoor applications for homes and offices. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. For advice on how to trim carpet around corners and doorways, keep reading. Seaming occurs as the carpet pieces are being cut to the rough size but before stretching and final trimming occur. Fold over the other 1/2" to the back and glue that down. Kelly Bacon is a licensed general contractor with almost 50 years experience in construction, home building and remodeling, and commercial building. As you move the iron, press the carpet pieces behind it gently down into the tape while pushing the pieces tightly together. If you are pulling up carpet from stairs: Begin at the top of the stairs. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. One can even use electrical handheld equipment to cut the carpet. The cutter has an extra long nose for better row separation plus a bottom platform and beveled surface that allows the … Fold one-third of the carpet into the center of the room then cut the fold with your utility knife (Don’t worry, I show you how to do this in my video but please don’t comment on my messy hair. For extensive jobs, wear gloves, goggles and knee pads to keep yourself comfortable and protected. If you are unsure, check the back of the carpet for arrows indicating the direction of the pile. Start with a sharp knife. http://www.diydoctor.org.uk/projects/layingacarpet.htm, https://www.hunker.com/12232967/carpet-cutting-tools, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxaFrT8mcVc, http://www.ronhazelton.com/tips/how_to_cut_cleanly_with_a_utility_knife, https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-cut-carpet-bob-vila-radio/#.WTGT9WjyvIU, http://www.dummies.com/home-garden/flooring/tips-for-laying-carpet/, https://www.familyhandyman.com/floor/carpet-repair/tips-for-removing-carpet/view-all, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtLy-nhh1do, http://lifehacker.com/cut-carpet-like-the-pros-and-save-your-razor-blade-1691866958, http://www.younghouselove.com/2013/05/how-to-remove-carpet/, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Place a carpet seaming iron under the two pieces of carpet, against the carpet seam tape, and plug in the iron. One of the most important things that you will want to do is use a straight edge. In addiition, each of these types can be made from different fiber materials such as nylon, wool, polyester or acrylic. Save this part for an experienced contractor. How to Repair a Carpet With Carpet Patching, How to Convert an Acrylic or Fiberglass Shower to Ceramic Tile, A Guide to Installing Carpet Over Underpad, How to Install Tub or Shower Surround Panels With Adhesive, An Expert's Guide to Hanging Your Own Wallpaper, How to Cut Solid-Surface Material With Simple Woodworking Tools, How to Install a Ridge Vent on a Shingled Roof. This keeps the carpet flat along the edges. For advice on how to trim carpet around corners and doorways, keep reading. Roberts Carpet Tools Cut and Jam Carpet Knife 10-220. FREE Shipping on orders over $25 shipped by Amazon Cut Carpet into Easy-to-Handle Pieces. These can be looped (where the fibres loop back into the backing material) or cut (cut off at the top). Follow the tape and iron manufacturer's recommendations for heating times. $10.78 $ 10. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/3c\/Cut-Carpet-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Cut-Carpet-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/3c\/Cut-Carpet-Step-1.jpg\/aid8921834-v4-728px-Cut-Carpet-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"