How to Cut Carpet and Rugs
Home decoration involves many different attributes of design and personal style and incorporates various materials. Installing floor covering is a large part of designing a home to suit your specific taste. Cutting a section of carpet or a large rug to fit a room can be a big project to undertake, and requires a bit of general knowledge about measuring properly. By following a proper set of guidelines, you can complete this task with little difficulty. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Utility knife or carpet shears
- Tape measure
- Marker
- 2 x 4 piece of wood
- PVA glue
- Paintbrush
Instructions
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Cutting Carpet
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1
Lay the carpet upside down on a flat, workable surface such as concrete. If the carpet is rolled up, unroll it to suit your dimensions.
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2
Measure the carpet to fit the area that you wish to cover. Add about four inches around the sides to make room for error.
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3
Mark a line on the carpet to follow as you cut. You can use a marker to mark your dimensions.
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4
Place a piece of wood such as a 2 x 4 directly underneath the carpet along your marked cutting line. This will ensure that you don't scratch the surface that you're working on or dull the utility knife.
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5
Cut along the line as straight as possible with a utility knife or carpet shears. Ensure that you cut away from your body to reduce the possibility of physical injury.
Cutting Rugs
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6
Measure the area in which you wish to place the rug. Typically, area rugs can be too large for some living or dining rooms.
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7
Flip the rug over and lay it on a flat, workable concrete surface and mark your measurements on the back of the rug.
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8
Place a 2 x 4 underneath the rug directly along the lines you need to cut. This reduces scratching on your concrete surface
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9
Cut the rug along your measured lines with a utility knife or carpet shears. Ensure that you follow a straight line to reduce ripples.
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10
Apply white or clear craft or PVA glue with a paintbrush to the side of the freshly cut rug. This will prevent it from fraying.
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Tips & Warnings
Apply colored binding tape to the edge of the carpet or rug to reduce the appearance of frayed edges. This is a little more expensive, but looks better as a finished product.
Use extreme caution while using a utility knife or carpet shears. They are very sharp and can cut easily. Always cut away from your body.
