All About Carpet Specifications
Although most people simply go into a store and choose a carpet according to what they see and feel, there are actually some carpet specifications that you should be familiar with which will make a difference in the installation. This is not only true for the smaller carpet tile specifications, but it is true for any type of carpet, regardless of the pile. Not only is it going to make a difference in the way that it feels under your feet, it is also going to change the durability of the carpet in many cases. Here are some of the most important things to look for when it comes to carpet specifications.
Looking At The Different Carpet Specifications
- One of the first things for you to consider is the carpet fiber. The two basic choices that you’re going to have are both synthetic nylon and polyester. Although most people will naturally gravitate towards nylon, because it tends to be a little bit more rugged, polyester actually is a good choice in many cases. The reason why this is the case, is because polyester is naturally stain resistant and it tends to fade less readily than nylon. You can get the same general feel out of either carpet, however, by choosing the right density.
- The pile density tends to be one of the carpet specifications that most people are familiar with. It has to do with how many times the fabric is stitched to the backing of the carpet. The more dense the carpet, the more comfortable and durable it is going to be. You should always make sure that you choose a carpet that has as much density as possible, as it will make a difference in the look and feel of it.
- When choosing Berber carpet from manufacturers such as Mohawk or Shaw, make sure that you choose one with a high pile whenever possible. Of course, there may be times whenever a little pile carpeting is also going to be desirable, such as when it is in an outdoor setting or if it is going to be installed in a room where it could receive some harsh use.
- One final thing that you can look at is the twists per inch. This will make a difference in how quickly the carpeting will begin to show wear. The higher the twist count, the more durable it is going to be. This is true with commercial carpet specifications, as well as for those that are installed inside of the home. Always make sure to go with a higher twist count whenever possible.
- These are just a few of the carpet specificationsthat you should be looking at, but they are things that need to be considered any time you make carpeting purchase. Regardless of whether you’re looking for carpet tile specifications or if you are going to be laying wall-to-wall carpeting, these things will make a difference in the comfort and durability of the item that is underneath your feet. Make sure to familiarize yourself with these before you step into the store.
How To Measure Carpet Accurately For Installation
Learning how to measure carpet is a fairly easy thing to do, but there are some things to keep in mind that will really make a difference in the accuracy of your measurements. It is not always just a matter of getting the length and width of the room, as not every room in the home is going to be perfectly square. This is also true whenever you are measuring carpet in order to be installed as this will also make a difference in how seamless the finished product is. Here is a general guide of how to measure carpet that will help you to get started properly.
The General Formula To Measure A Carpet
- The first thing that you need to keep in mind is the general formula to measure carpet.
- This is a standard formula that has been taught to us ever since grade school and that is length x width equals area.
- For example, a 10′ x 10′ room is going to be 100 square feet.
- At its most basic level, it really is that simple and this general formula is all that really needs to be kept in mind in order to get you started properly.
- From that point, however, that is where things tend to get a little bit more difficult.
The reason why this is the case, is because not every room is going to have four walls without any variations. Dormers bump outs and closets all add to the overall size of the room and need to be considered whenever you are measuring for carpet. It is important for you to make sure that you measure the length and width at the longest part of the room, running the measuring tape into the closet to the back wall or to the back wall of any bump out of area inside of the room. This will help you to have the most seamless carpet installation that you possibly can.
Carpet Replacement On Stairs
- When doing carpet replacement on stairs, the measuring gets a little bit trickier.
- You are going to need to measure the rise and run on one of these stairs, and if it is typical, you will only need to get one measurement.
- Add the distance of the rise and run together and then pad it with an additional 2 inches.
- Multiply that by the number of stairs that are on the staircase and you will have enough carpeting in order to take care of the job.
- Make sure that when you that you allow an additional 2 inches in width as well.
That is all that is generally needed whenever you’re learning how to measure carpet. Of course, it is also beneficial for you to know the width of the carpet that is being installed, as this can also help to make the installation seamless. When measuring carpet, always make sure that you give yourself a little bit of extra room and do any trimming that needs to be done with the carpet in place. This will help to keep you from cutting yourself short with the overall installation size.
DIY: How To Lay Carpet
Redoing rooms can be a tricky job that requires a lot of time and labor. When it comes to installing new carpet, many people would prefer paying someone to come into their homes and do the installation for them. With the right tools and equipment, you can learn how to lay carpet quickly and easily, saving yourself a large installation fee! Indoor/ outdoor Armstrong carpet tiles and squares are another quick and efficient way to lay carpet yourself.
No Carpet Installers Needed
Laying your own carpet will save you money while also ensuring that the job gets done to your satisfaction. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Power Stretcher
- Row Running Knife
- Seaming Iron
- Knee Kicker
- Masonry nails
- Carpet Padding
- Hot melt seaming tape
- Tackless Strip
- Gripper Edge
- Step One
Get all of your supplies together. You can rent some of the equipment you’ll need and find the rest of the materials at your local home improvement store.
- Step Two
You cannot begin the carpeting process before prepping your current floors. If you are starting off with a wooden floor, you should sweep and vacuum the area thoroughly. You will be using nails to lay the carpet, so you need to figure out where your duct work is so you don’t accidentally nail into it. You can do this by wetting the floor and looking for the areas that dry first. These will be where ducts are located; you can easily mark these with chalk.
- Step Three
Install the tackless strip after cutting it to length (to fit each wall) by nailing them down with masonry nails. After this is complete, begin installation of your carpet pad. Make sure the pad is face up, stapling it down every six inches. If you have flooring that is made of stone materials, you will need to use carpet glue instead of nails.
- Step Four
You will need to cut the carpet to fit the room in which you wish to renovate. Make sure that the pile of your carpet is facing the same direction. When you are measuring the room, make sure you add four to six extra inches (just in case). If you need to create a seam in your carpet- make sure you have two inches for overlap. Seaming tape is used for the carpet seams; you will cut the seaming tape to fit the length of the carpet seam. Use your seaming iron to heat the seaming tape.
- Step Five
The next step is hooking the carpet onto your tackless strips with your knee kicker. You can do this by pushing the teeth of the knee kicker into the carpet (one inch from the wall). Your power stretcher will now be used to attach the carpet to the wall. Six inches from the desired wall, place the bottom of the power stretcher. This is the best way to work when learning how to stretch carpet. Be sure to protect the wall with a scrap piece of carpet. Once the teeth of the power stretcher are pressed, lock it into place and stretch the carpet- hooking it onto the tackless strips (continue this process throughout the entire room until project is complete). The final stage is to trim the carpet and install your gripper edge. Each gripper edge is different, so follow the directions enclosed in its packaging.
Learning how to lay carpet is a very achievable task! However, it is sometimes easier said than done. Many companies that sell carpet also offer reasonable installation packages.
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