An Easy Guide to Installing Outdoor Carpeting for Newbies
Installing outdoor carpet is a great way to upgrade your outdoor living space and make it feel more like an actual room. Outdoor carpet is a great way to soften your feet and come in a wide variety of colors and textures. Before you begin the installation process, there are a few preparatory steps you should take in order to ensure a successful install.
The first step is to prepare the installation area. Clean the surface of all dirt, oils, and other debris. If you are removing an existing flooring, make sure all traces of adhesive, mortar, and wood are completely gone. Once the area is cleaned, you’re ready to lay the carpet.
Start by rolling out your carpet over the area and let it sit for a few hours to expand. After the carpet has expanded to its real size, lay down the double-sided tape along the perimeter. Leave the protective paper backing on the tape until you’re ready to apply the carpet. Once laid out, center the carpet on the area so that an equal amount of excess carpeting is along the perimeter. Next is to make a vertical cut to the edge of the carpet and down the side if the carpet is going up a wall. Use a straightedge or carpenter’s square to make a clean cut. If covering an area with corners, make a V cut so the carpet will lay flat.
After everything is cut, slowly start peeling back a part of the carpet. Pull the protective paper backing off of the double-sided tape and carefully lay the outdoor carpet on the tape. Do this around the entire perimeter, and make sure to roll a 50-pound roller over the carpet to ensure a secure stick. To finish, make a final trim with a utility knife and use outdoor clear adhesive to go over the edges of the outdoor carpet. This will help prevent curling up of the corners and will protect against water leaks underneath the carpet.
Installing outdoor carpet is not difficult and can make a huge difference in your outdoor living space. With a few simple steps, you’re sure to have a quality looking outdoor carpet that will give your outdoor living space texture and color!
