Posted 6th Aug 2016
My son's bedroom has wooden floorboards laid down on it - some of which are quite gappy. Somebody has given me some underlay (8 mm foam), however, I have never used underlay before. I've looked it up on google, and it says to staple the underlay to the floorboards and to put down gripper carpet rods (never used those before either). My son's bedroom is very small (around 6 m2) and I was going to put down the carpet myself.
I do not actually own a staple gun and don't want the extra expense of buying one - can you use some type of staple/nail that can be hammered in instead? Also, I looked at gripper rods - which it says to nail to the floor, but I do not have a carpet stretcher and was wondering how you push the carpet on top of the gripper rods - seeing there are spikes sticking up on them? Any advice would be most appreciated. Thank you.
I do not actually own a staple gun and don't want the extra expense of buying one - can you use some type of staple/nail that can be hammered in instead? Also, I looked at gripper rods - which it says to nail to the floor, but I do not have a carpet stretcher and was wondering how you push the carpet on top of the gripper rods - seeing there are spikes sticking up on them? Any advice would be most appreciated. Thank you.
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sorted byThey would not do it, as the room is very small - only around 6 m2 (in an L-shape too, due to the built-in boxed staircase behind the bedroom door - free fitting for this company is for rooms larger than 12 m2.
Have you thought about laminate flooring instead? Easier to do it yourself and will last longer than carpet.
Sounds simple but not always that easy, plus one mistake and carpet may be useless. I've done some and regretted a few.
Have you just used the adhesive on the underlay (to save using a staple gun) and then fitted carpet carpet gripper rods with the nails? Thank you.
In the old days they just used carpet tacks wickes.co.uk/Wic…100 rather than gripper rod. Its cheaper and actually quite easy.
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Sorry, do you mean just for the underlay? My carpet is not foam backed so will need fixing down on top of the underlay, that is why I thought I would have to use gripper rods. Surely, if I used double sided tape on the carpet as well, it would not stick to the underlay properly?
Just read the reviews on Screwfix for this and somebody said:-
" stuck the underlay and then the carpet really well Will definitely use again "
So, I take it that they did use this to stick the carpet to the underlay?
All these other solutions may be fine, but if it's laid shoddy, it's gonna look shoddy, just cough up the initial expense.
First of all, knock up some papier mache and fill those floor board gaps - may as well do it while you can.
Next, make sure you have removed any nails etc still sticking up through floorboards so floor is nice and smooth.
Next, give it a good wash and let it dry naturally - a day or so.
Cover the floor with newspaper or brown paper.
Lay the underlay as best you can on this. Use carpet tacks to hammer down at edges and corners - not too many - you only need it to grip a bit while you put the carpet on top. Carpet tacks have big heads and very sharp points - quite easy to knock in with a hammer and easy to lift if it goes wrong. Make sure you get as far to the edge of the room as you can and try to ensure the tack head buries itself below the level of the underlay.
Do the same for the carpet - doubly ensuring head goes below surface - just so they are not unsightly showing and a bare foot cannot be caught on it easily. oh and you might want to put a layer of paper also on top of the underlay - just prevents a bit of sticking together to make it much easier when it comes to lifting it in the future.
This looks a lot easier than using the carpet grippers - how far apart do you suggest that I place the carpet tacks along the edges of the carpet (hard back to it which seems covered in a very thin layer of felt)? Thank you.
Use a new blade in a decent knife to cut - anything a bit blunt will make a mess.
The advice from tardytortoise is good.
I was hoping to get some carpet tacks at my local Screwfix (much nearer than Wickes), however, on their website I cannot see them stocked - thank you for the advice though, much appreciated.
i use a binary halfing technique. so 1 in each corner, 1 half between these 2. then 1 halfway between the centre and each corner. and keep halfing until you think you have got enough in. no exact science to it - just do what feels right.
if you do that with the underlay, when it comes to the carpet just tack slightly to left or right of those halfway points and then you cannot hit a tack with a tack
(edited)
Thank you for the advice - off to buy some tacks tomorrow.
Thank you for the video, will be using the tacks as suggested in post number 13.
I'm sure you'll do a good job.
Lay the underlay as close to the skirting board as you can.
Then lay the carpet as close to the skirting board as you can. You want a real snug fit - no need to leave any gaps.
Thank you, just wanted to check this before starting the job.