The Modern Way of Carpeting and Installation

Carpet is commonly made in widths of twelve and fifteen feet in the USA, four and five meters in Europe. Where necessary different widths can be seamed together with a seaming iron and seam tape and it is affixed to a floor over a cushioned underlay using nails, tack strips (also known as gripper rods in the United Kingdom), adhesives, or occasionally decorative metal stair rods, thus distinguishing it from rugs or mats, which are loose-laid floor coverings.



For environmental reasons, the use of wool, natural bindings, natural padding, and formaldehyde-free glues is becoming more common. These options are almost always at a premium cost, though with no sacrifice to performance.



Carpet tiles are also available, typically 50 cm square. These are usually only used in commercial settings and are affixed using special pressure-sensitive glue, which holds them into place while allowing easy removal (an office environment, for example) or to allow rearrangement in order to spread wear.



Dalton, Georgia produces 90% of the USA's carpeting, rugs, and hardwood flooring. It is sometimes referred to as the carpet capital of the world. Over 150 production plants and more than 100 wholesale outlets are based in the Dalton area (Whitfield County, Georgia and Gordon County, Georgia).



In the United Kingdom, some carpets are still manufactured for pubs and clubs in a narrow width of 27 inches and then sewn to size. Carpeting which covers an entire room area is loosely referred to as 'wall-to-wall", but carpet can be installed over any portion thereof with use of appropriate transition moldings where the carpet meets other types of floor coverings.



Carpeting is more than just a single item; it is, in fact, a system comprising the carpet itself, the carpet backing (which is often made of latex), the cushioning underlay, and a method of installation.

Installing carpeting is not difficult; however, it requires strength, patience and stamina. Fortunately, a slew of very helpful tools await you. Besides needing common household tools for the job, you will need to obtain some specialized carpet installation equipment. These tools are usually expensive to purchase; however, many home improvement stores offer them for rent for little cost.



You will need to assemble some common household tools for your carpet installation: a hammer, a measuring tape, a utility knife with extra blades, heavy-duty work gloves and safety glasses. You may also want to enlist the aid of a few helpers, as lugging carpeting around hallways and through doorways is strenuous work.



The knee kicker is a long metal apparatus that is aptly named. You kick the tool across the carpet with your knee! One end of the knee kicker has metal teeth on the bottom; a knee pad cradles your knee at the other end. This tool bites the edges of the carpet and stretches it to go over the tackless strips. It is a tool intended for stretching the accessible, wide areas of the carpet. For smaller corners and strips or very large areas of carpet, skip the knee kicker and reach for the power stretcher.



Tackless strips are thin, narrow strips of wood studded with tacks. They are called "tackless" because you don't tack them to the carpet from above. Rather, you nail the tackless strips into your subfloor, about ½ inches from the wall. When you lay the carpet for installation lay it next to the tackless strips; the carpet is then stretched with the knee kicker over the strips and grabbed by the tacks of the strips.



This tool looks like a giant broom with shark's teeth. It's a power stretcher and does just as the name implies. The power stretcher stretches large areas of carpeting toward the walls and over the tackless strips. The adjustable handle will extend to several feet, allowing you to get better leverage and stretch very large areas of carpeting.



For lengthy areas of carpet cutting, set aside the utility knife. Use the carpet cutter. This tool is able to trim the carpet neatly and cleanly, using the wall or baseboard as a guide for a perfectly even cut. The carpet cutter has a rounded handle for easy use.



Carpet is usually woven and sold in 12-foot lengths. However, rooms needing carpet are sometimes wider. In such a case, you need to create smooth seams between two sections of carpet. The heat bond iron works together with heat-activated tape to create smooth, beautiful seams.



Instabind, environment experts Carpet Maker. If you're ready to discover the creative and exciting world of custom rugs sculpture and have fun doing it, then why not ask for more information about DIY Carpet Binding, Auto Carpet Binding and Marine Carpet Binding visit to http://www.instabind.com

Comments

Popular Posts