How do you trim a wall to wall carpet accurately?

Question

I have a heavy carpet that was removed from a church being remodeled. It is complete with the material used under the rug, and was glued to the flooring rather than stretched. I need to know how I can trim (cut) it accurately to fit an irregular wall, doors, etc. I will be using double stick carpet tape to hold it in place.

Answer 1

lay the rug down in the room and lift the edges to put chalk down along the wall. Place the rug down as tight as you can get it to the edge and it will leave a chalk cut out line on the back. You may have to trim the rug close to the finished size in small areas so the chalk will connect with the rug. I too think you should use tack strips instead of tape.

Brin

Answer 2

I see some valid answers and some I disagrre with,,, no offense. First of all I'm curious as to how You define HEAVY?

It's commercial grade carpet, much like in department stores etc. most likely.

I suggest tack strip no matter how else you had planned to secure it. If you cut it prop[erly you can get away without a "kicker" and worry over stretching it.

Your first best step is to accurately measure and diagram the area noting the cuts. The weight of the carpet suggests you won't exactly be able to roll, pull, adjust, very well if you haul a huge piece into a room.

Irregular? Meaning angles, etc. not square? Door ways are a simple issue, and if you happen to be stopping the carpet at a doorway instead of extending it into any adjacent areas use threshold molding.

Certainly a professional carpet cutting utility knife with lots of extra blades is how I'd proceed, and possibly I'd even remove base molding to allow a 1/4 inch or so, gap at the edges for a DIY project.

Again, with no offense meant the chalk idea is unlikely to work.

You also don't state the sub surface. Concrete, wood???

Initially think of the room in its largest measurements as if it is square. Cut a piece to fit that, roll it, bring it into the area, unroll it and unless you've already cut it to fit, as I suggested, then you'll begin cutting to the molding.

Since it was glued, I'm curious about how the padding was attached to anything, and then suggest you invest in new padding. IN fact cutting new padding to and exact fit will aid you in your final measurements and cuts.

Rev. Steven

Answer 3

You can rent a carpet cutter from an equipment rental place for ~$5. It's nothing fancy, but it will help you cut a straight line along the walls. All you do is lay the carpet against the wall and run the cutter along the baseboard. A razor blade cuts the carpet. Have plenty of spare blades on hand -- they dull really quick.

Use a straight edge and a carpet knife in the doorways.

Answer 4

first a double sided tape will not be strong enough to hold it, it needs to be glued as it was in the church. make sure you have a razor sharp stanley knife and cut at a 90 degree angle to the wall

Answer 5

Very carefully! My granddad always said "measure twice, cut once". I would definitely use gripper rods rather than sticky tape for a better fit, as you can hook the carpet onto them, get it in more or less the right place, and very carefully cut it to size.

Answer 6

A good shap utility knife