Pull the edges off the tack strip along the wall and roll up the carpet piece to be discarded. 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 is best done from the underside using a knife so as not to cut the pile. Cut through the painter's tape and carpet with a utility knife. Use a tape measure and marker to add lines based off of the measurements you took in step one. Make 5-6 total cuts, pressing a little harder each time. Move the tool all the way across the carpet, cutting a … For extensive jobs, wear gloves, goggles and knee pads to keep yourself comfortable and protected. 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. 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. 1 decade ago. suggestions. Hold the tool straight and steady so that it doesn't waver from the path and doesn't cut at an angle. 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. For advice on how to trim carpet around corners and doorways, keep reading. View our Privacy Policy here. Repeat a few times to make sure the paper is completely cut through. 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. Be sure to mark the lines in several places along the carpet to make cutting easier all the way across. If you’re using a utility knife with a removable blade, take a minute to insert a new one before you get started. 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. 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. With one pitiful rug pad and two overly-welcoming dogs that rush the front door every time they hear a noise — I … Airtight patches are best achieved on smooth, dry surfaces with the tape on both sides of the repair (when accessible). Start with a sharp knife. If you're having trouble, use your utility knife to separate the carpet where it connects to the baseboards. Carpet cutting is something that is going to be necessary when you install new carpet. Product Overview. This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. This should be at least 18 º C (65 º F). Get the edge bound by overlocking it. 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. You might also choose to pull on a facemask, if you’re sensitive to dust. Make a vertical cut through the carpet with a utility knife from the edge of the floor straight up the wall at a corner. 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. When you are doing this, you should be able to focus on an individual row in the carpet. A straight edge is going to be necessary to guide your knife along the edge of the carpet. A straight edge is going to be necessary to guide your knife along the edge of the carpet. DoItYourself.com®, founded in 1995, is the leading independent 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. Whatever you use, make sure the edge is nice and sharp. 1 decade ago. Cut out the rug. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 90,628 times. Complete a second cut, this time pressing down a bit more firmly. Lay the newly cut edge of carpet back down over the uncut piece. All rights reserved. It may be helpful to perform a mockup of the cuts you intend to make on a scrap piece of cardboard first. Since you’ll be throwing the old carpet out, there’s no need for precision or delicacy here. [1] X Research source If you’re using a utili… 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. Pull the cut piece gently away from the surrounding carpet to minimise pile … wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Website operating The method teaches the installer to cut the carpet in order to obtain a carpet edge with a straight cut. Outline your cuts with a marker before making them with the knife. If you go slowly and deliberately, there is a much better chance that you will be able to cut the carpet straight. If your carpet is tacked down with staples or adhesive, it may take a little effort to get it started by hand. He's an experienced researcher who enjoys learning about a wide range of do-it-yourself topics. 0 0. Save this part for an experienced contractor. Chalk will mark the back of carpet with a nice visible line. Make sure that the line is even and repeat the process down and across. 4. 1995-2018 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Place the blade of your knife right alongside the ruler and slice downward, pulling the knife carefully toward you. A shop vac is the best way to collect dust, stray threads and other materials that are left lying around after removal. Use a long straightedge to help cut straight lines, slicing along the edge of the carpet piece. The roll itself can serve as a convenient reference for tracing straight lines. To cut carpet for installation, start by unrolling the carpet so that the backside is facing up. % of people told us that this article helped them. The blade will be dangerously sharp, and even the slightest slip might result in serious injury. Complex cutouts may be best left to the professionals. Add to Cart + Add to My List. Using a carpet cutter and a utility knife (Photos 10 and 11), cut off the excess after the carpet is completely stretched. Use sharp utility knife, which is key to making a clean cut; you may need to change the blade several times during a large carpet project. Hold the ruler in place with one hand while cutting with the other. Doorway seams and other transitions can be difficult to cut and place correctly. By doing this you are cutting square tiles into the carpet. 0 0. barbaraminor@btinternet.com. Cut the carpet pad under the carpet with a utility knife so that it ends flush against the edge of the tackless strip. 2. When you cut carpet, you need to make sure that you cut it straight. 2. Keep your wrist fixed to avoid making sloppy or uneven cuts. How to Install Carpet Around Immovable Obstacles. Whether you’re putting it in or pulling it up, knowing the finer points of cutting carpet can save you valuable time and expense. 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. Hold one end of the transition strip with your nondominant hand and press down firmly on … Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. This will help guide you and make a clean cut. 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. 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. Now, mark your carpet at the right measurements width wise so you can cut it to fit in the desired room. Last Updated: March 29, 2019 Then, drag the blade in a straight line towards you. 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. By using our site, you agree to our. 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. Cut an entry point for the cutter with the utility knife from the back. Once the carpet has been cut and unfastened, you can simply roll it up, carry it out and dispose of it. 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. His areas of focus include flooring, siding, roofing, tile, bakeware, and motorcycles. Carpet pad is what gives the carpet it's pleasant feeling of cushion and softness, as well as protecting feet from possibly protruding tacks. These tools feature durable edges and automated cutting action, which can help you sidestep the difficulty of doing it manually. It should still overlap the bottom piece by about 2 inches. One of the most important things that you will want to do is use a straight edge. The carpet will bow or pucker at the corner until a vertical cut is made. Cut the remnant with a sharp utility knife so the carpet piece has straight, clean edges. Use a Straight Edge. 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. Questions of a Do It Yourself nature should be home improvement and repair website. You might also use a handheld electric carpet cutting tool. Don’t get into too big of a hurry—that’s how accidents happen. There are 15 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. We welcome your comments and Be careful not to cut the nap. Copyright© References. Do not cut into the bottom piece while trimming the top. Anonymous. This will be the most important (and possibly the only) tool you’ll need to cut carpet. Using a straightedge, like a yardstick or meter stick, may help. Step 4 - … to this site, and use it for non-commercial use subject to our terms of use. When you rush through the process, you are most likely going to end up making a mistake. This will show a straight edge vs. row cut challenge and reveals the winner at the end! 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. 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. If your first pass doesn't cut through the carpet and the padding, keep your straight edge in place and cut again until you are completely through. After years of perusing FLOR’s catalog and website, I finally bit the bullet and ordered the carpet tiles for my entryway and kitchen. Draw a straight line across the strip with the marker. wikiHow's. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Cutting carpet may seem like a straightforward task, but there's an art to getting the job done right. Generally speaking, however, these aren't techniques you can do yourself; rather, … Cut every piece to be the same length as the tackless strips, not the carpet runner itself. How to Install Rubber Carpet Pads for So... How to Install Rubber Carpet Pads for Soundproofing. By working with another person, you’ll be able to lay or pull up carpet twice as fast. In many types of carpet, you will be able to see the rows of the carpet. 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. A standard utility knife is preferable, though something like an X-Acto knife or razor can also do the trick. 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 … Take the utility knife and gently run a straight line onto the back of the carpet. Step 5 - Cutting the Carpet Tiles. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Learn the top 5 signs someone is lying to you. submitted to our "DoItYourself.com Community Forums". 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. Here are a few tips for cutting carpet straight. The backing is flat, with no thick pile to get in your way. Press the ruler firmly onto the work surface, or secure it with sticky tack. Next, place the tip of a utility knife against the carpet backing and press until it pierces the backing. Here are a few tips for cutting carpet straight. Whenever possible, work on the back side of the carpet. One of the biggest problems that people have with cutting carpet straight is that they rush. He has worked as a handyman for various individuals since 2013, with a focus on lawn care and home renovation.  Keep the straight edge in place, and put the tip of the blade into the channel you created by scoring the board. Luke is a contributing writer for DoItYourself.com. All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. 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