any fit thier own carpets?

[steveo3002]

just wondering if anyone does thier carpets ?

its not that i wont pay , but would be much nicer to do it when im ready and not have to wait around for someome to turn up

the existing carpet already has the gripper bars around the edge , i assume i can leave these and trim the carpet then use a kicker thingy to stretch and it tuck the edge in with a paint scraper or similar?

any suggestions please

 

[rich r]

I've done it a few times - it's generally not too difficult, but it will probably take you longer to get it stretched evenly than someone who does it every day would take.

 

[Wozzaaah]

I've fitted a few and that's pretty much all there is to it.
Just don't do what errmm someone I know did when I..I mean he did our...I mean his bathroom which was to use the old one as a template and cut it too small , you can always cut more off but you can't add any.
I bought a Clarke knee-kicker from MM, plenty good enough for doing the odd one.

 

[CRB]

Not really fun to do, but like a lot of other things gives you a good feeling inside.

I found that I needed to go back after a few weeks to stretch it again.

 

[Cobbler]

Aldi or Lidl had stretchers in a couple of days ago, Aldi I think it was, might be worth asking if one is close. Offers change today according to the web, but may be some left.

 

[Kent]

No because a pro is way faster and once your done getting the right kit in for that easy job a pro will have the thing fitted. On a hard job forget it because its not unskilled at that end of things. These guys make a living doing lots of jobs in a day, they get real bad knees very young and are totally worth their money and then some.
Fitting laminate, plank or tile is different I should never pay another to do that most are quickish but rough

 

[marfyboy]

I helped (watched) a fitter lay my stairs carpet that is a black art. I would always pay to have carpet fitted.

 

[Jrstainless]

Easy to fit your own and the carpet stretchers can be hired for £5 but if it's stairs or vinyl pay a carpet fitter.
Jr

 

[marlinspike]

We had a lot of carpeting done a couple of years ago by Carpetright. You pay the fitters direct on the day, and IIRC, a 12x12' room was about £40 to fit - which to my mind is not enough to save by doing it yourself. Only took about 30 mins per room, so not bad money though as I bet most people pay cash. They don't dispose of the old carpet for free anymore though, and rather cheekily, Carpetright charge for delivery.

If you fancy having a go, I would have a go, but by the time you have bought a bit of gear you might not save much, unless you are doing a few rooms.

 

[Migmac]

Laid a few over the years, very straight forward. Once you've done the first one you"ll wonder what all the fuss was about. Make sure you've got a new blade fitted

 

[Pete.]

Done a few here at home including 3 stairs and 3 landings which was hard going. I just bought one for the front room though and fitting was just £39

 

[ford34/2]

I`ve done loads, if the room is empty its a relative doddle, if the carpet is way over size it can be nightmare, chimney breast recesses, bay window, take your time, trim a bit at a time, get it within a couple of inches, retrim and retrim again, a real good straight edge, when or if you fold the carpet back make sure the carpet is folded properly and is straight, ever so easy to fold it back and not have a straight fold. Take your time with any external corners, if you cut a line too far it always shows. same round the door openings, take it slow, a bit at a time and nice and easy does it.

Stan

 

[J.B. Welding]

I made a kicker from a few strips of grippa strip and some 4x2. Easy to stretch out really and its not like you can't move the carpet about if it's not quite right, not like finishing a 12" 400amp mig run then deciding to change the angle a wee bit......

 

[dunk]

go for it, then you will know if your cut out to do more in the future or better off getting the pro`s in

 

[brightspark]

if u have spent over 24 quid a meter on a carpet i wouldnt bother . just get someone in. i can go earn more than they charge per hour so its pointless

 

[mike os]

not worth the effort, jst get a man in

 

[stormin]

I refitted an existing carpet in my old house after having floor up for jobs. Ruined my knees for ages using the kicker I hired To stretch the carpet back into place.
Fitted a small cheap carpet in a bedroom but for an expensive living room caroet that could easily be over a grand I reckon it takes some bottle to start cutting it up. Reckon I'd leave it to someone else these days. Laminate floorings a lot easier worst you can do is ruin a couple of £10 lumps.

 

[lexi]

Think the most I've paid is £8 a metre...

That's not a carpet Fuzzy........that's the underfelt

 

[pedrobedro]

Cut it a bit big and knock the spare 1/2" under the skirting board with a bolster chisel. There are all kinds of methods depending on what you are laying your carpet on, wood or concrete floor and whether it is foam backed or needs underlay.

 

[p0689109]

If its a pattern carpet with straight lines in it then getting it tight using the kicker is an art as any bit not the same tension will show a wavy line!!