We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. Next, place the tip of a utility knife against the carpet backing and press until it pierces the backing. Try to keep your line within a row. It may be helpful to perform a mockup of the cuts you intend to make on a scrap piece of cardboard first. 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. 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. 1. Pull the edges off the tack strip along the wall and roll up the carpet piece to be discarded. Start with a sharp knife. The cutter is designed to trap the carpet against the woodwork and cut it accurately. If you don’t have the benefit of a straightedge, try feeling for one of the seams in the underside of the backing. The roll itself can serve as a convenient reference for tracing straight lines. If you’re using a utility knife with a removable blade, take a minute to insert a new one before you get started. He has worked as a handyman for various individuals since 2013, with a focus on lawn care and home renovation.  To cut carpet for installation, start by unrolling the carpet so that the backside is facing up. By doing this you are cutting square tiles into the carpet. Be careful not to cut the nap. 1 decade ago. Cut the carpet pad under the carpet with a utility knife so that it ends flush against the edge of the tackless strip. This will help guide you and make a clean cut. The installer will then score the secondary backing of the carpet at a location between the straight edge of the carpet and the end of where the melt tape will be applied. 0 0. barbaraminor@btinternet.com. Don’t get into too big of a hurry—that’s how accidents happen. Unless you’re planning on repurposing your old carpet, it can simply be thrown away once the project is complete. 1 decade ago. These tools feature durable edges and automated cutting action, which can help you sidestep the difficulty of doing it manually. With one pitiful rug pad and two overly-welcoming dogs that rush the front door every time they hear a noise — I … To find the inner area of the room, multiply the length of the room (in feet) by the width. Ideally, you should use a special carpet knife to make this cut. Following a seam will help you make straight, steady cuts. When you get to the doorway, cut the carpet in line with the edge of the flooring in the next room. Last Updated: March 29, 2019 After years of perusing FLOR’s catalog and website, I finally bit the bullet and ordered the carpet tiles for my entryway and kitchen. Get the edge bound by overlocking it. A shop vac is the best way to collect dust, stray threads and other materials that are left lying around after removal. Fold the carpet along any chalk line and cut with a carpet knife. 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. This carpet cutter is the ideal tool for cutting carpets accurately and efficiently. We welcome your comments and Since you’ll be throwing the old carpet out, there’s no need for precision or delicacy here. It should still overlap the bottom piece by about 2 inches. The tools you will need are a sharp utility knife, metal ruler or straight edge, chalk line, double-sided carpet tape or carpet tile adhesive. wikiHow's. All information is provided "AS IS." 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. Whenever possible, work on the back side of the carpet. One of the most important things that you will want to do is use a straight edge. If you go slowly and deliberately, there is a much better chance that you will be able to cut the carpet straight. Now, mark your carpet at the right measurements width wise so you can cut it to fit in the desired room. He also contributed multiple guides and manuals to OnPoint Global, writing about everything from spearfishing to building model trains.  The most common choices for carpet finishing are binding, serging, and fringing. Save this part for an experienced contractor. This should be at least 18 º C (65 º F). The back of the material may also be marked with pencils, markers or a chalk line for reference points while cutting, which is more accurate than trying to cut from the … 2. He's an experienced researcher who enjoys learning about a wide range of do-it-yourself topics. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Professional Writing from Taylor University, which enabled him to write for several Indiana newspapers, including The Waynesdale News and The News Herald. For advice on how to trim carpet around corners and doorways, keep reading. Complex cutouts may be best left to the professionals. Keep the straight edge in place, and put the tip of the blade into the channel you created by scoring the board. Measure the length and width of carpet needed on the back of the carpet. Hold the ruler in place with one hand while cutting with the other. He has also worked as a seasonal employee for the landscaping companies Fisk Lawnscapes and Davey Tree Expert Company and as a Remodeling Assistant for the home renovation company Improvement Pros, LLC. Remove any frays or loose fibers. For advice on how to trim carpet around corners and doorways, keep reading. How to Install Rubber Carpet Pads for So... How to Install Rubber Carpet Pads for Soundproofing. References. This will be the most important (and possibly the only) tool you’ll need to cut carpet. This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. suggestions. 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 tackless strip into the space between the strip and the wall. Then, drag the blade in a straight line towards you. Using a straightedge, like a yardstick or meter stick, may help. Generally speaking, however, these aren't techniques you can do yourself; rather, … Chalk will mark the back of carpet with a nice visible line. If you need to fit the carpet around a pipe, simply make a straight cut from the edge of the carpet to the outer edge of the pipe and press the carpet around it. Gabriel Connor Salter is a freelance writer and editor who has had over 280 articles published by various organizations.   Measure and cut a piece of carpet pad for each tread. home improvement and repair website. Deepen the cut with 4-5 more passes of the knife blade. Step 4 - … Luke is a contributing writer for DoItYourself.com. Anonymous. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. to this site, and use it for non-commercial use subject to our terms of use. Add to Cart + Add to My List. Use a tape measure and marker to add lines based off of the measurements you took in step one. Draw a straight line across the strip with the marker. How to Install Carpet Around Immovable Obstacles. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. DoItYourself.com®, founded in 1995, is the leading independent Here are a few tips for cutting carpet straight. A straight edge is going to be necessary to guide your knife along the edge of the carpet. One of the biggest problems that people have with cutting carpet straight is that they rush. Cut through the painter's tape and carpet with a utility knife. 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. A carpet knife or boxcutters, I don't think anything else can really get … Dig out any remaining staples or dried clumps of adhesive with a floor scraper. Lay your carpet out in a clean area, carpet side down. Place the blade of your knife right alongside the ruler and slice downward, pulling the knife carefully toward you. Cutting carpet is mostly a matter of getting through the backing, which is the hard, flat side that lays flush against the floor. Whether you’re putting it in or pulling it up, knowing the finer points of cutting carpet can save you valuable time and expense. [1] X Research source If you’re using a utili… Pull the cut piece gently away from the surrounding carpet to minimise pile … Step 3 Set the transition strip on a flat surface and press a hack saw against the mark. Whether the carpet is woven or needle-punched, it should be possible to tell by looking at the pile side and/or the underside which way its "straight grain" runs. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Use a long straightedge to help cut straight lines, slicing along the edge of the carpet piece. Carpet cutting is something that is going to be necessary when you install new carpet. When you are doing this, you should be able to focus on an individual row in the carpet. Make a vertical cut through the carpet with a utility knife from the edge of the floor straight up the wall at a corner. % of people told us that this article helped them. To ensure our content is always up-to-date with current information, best practices, and professional advice, articles are routinely reviewed by industry experts with years of hands-on experience. Hold one end of the transition strip with your nondominant hand and press down firmly on … Cut the remnant with a sharp utility knife so the carpet piece has straight, clean edges. 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/, कार्पेट को काटें (Cut Carpet), consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. The Problem: I have gone through about five different rugs in my entryway. 4. When you rush through the process, you are most likely going to end up making a mistake. How to Hide a Seam in Your Indoor Outdoo... How to Hide a Seam in Your Indoor Outdoor Carpet. Airtight patches are best achieved on smooth, dry surfaces with the tape on both sides of the repair (when accessible). This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. Once the carpet has been cut and unfastened, you can simply roll it up, carry it out and dispose of it. A straight edge is going to be necessary to guide your knife along the edge of the carpet. Use a T-square to plot out 90-degree corners. Use a straight edge (credit card or similar object), to press out fingerprints.For best results, apply the tape to a clean surface. This article has been viewed 90,628 times. 1995-2018 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Outline your cuts with a marker before making them with the knife. Don’t jam the blade into the carpet too deeply. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 90,628 times. You may freely link Make 5-6 total cuts, pressing a little harder each time. Product Overview. Copyright© If you're having trouble, use your utility knife to separate the carpet where it connects to the baseboards. Keep your wrist fixed to avoid making sloppy or uneven cuts. Make sure that the line is even and repeat the process down and across. submitted to our "DoItYourself.com Community Forums". Use a Straight Edge. Cut out the rug. There are 15 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. While it is possible to cut the carpet from the top side, you can achieve a cleaner cut by flipping the carpet over and cutting it from the back side of the material. You might also use a handheld electric carpet cutting tool. One of the most important things that you will want to do is use a straight edge. Cut straight every time with this reliable carpet cutter $ 4 79. This is best done from the underside using a knife so as not to cut the pile. In many types of carpet, you will be able to see the rows of the carpet. Carpet tiles must be stored in the laying area for a minimum of 24 hours at the same temperature and humidity that will apply when the tiles are laid. Whatever you use, make sure the edge is nice and sharp. Lay the newly cut edge of carpet back down over the uncut piece. Learn the top 5 signs someone is lying to you. Cut every piece to be the same length as the tackless strips, not the carpet runner itself. When you cut carpet, you need to make sure that you cut it straight. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. When you cut carpet, you need to make sure that you cut it straight. By working with another person, you’ll be able to lay or pull up carpet twice as fast. Website operating You are now ready to cut the carpet tiles after laying the carpet onto a flat surface. Here are a few tips for cutting carpet straight. Place a long straightedge down to draw a marker line on the back of the carpet where a straight cut is required, and then keep the straightedge on that line as you make the cut. You might blunt or break your knife, or even mark up the underlying flooring. Be extremely cautious when handling your utility knife. with a carpet cutter. Doorway seams and other transitions can be difficult to cut and place correctly. His areas of focus include flooring, siding, roofing, tile, bakeware, and motorcycles. {"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":"