Most carpeting has a single design and is stretched from wall to wall. It covers more square feet of American homes than any other material. But if you want a soft floor covering that gives you more options, carpel squares are an excellent choice.
Manufacturers have found ways to create attractive new carpet using recycled fibers. This not only reuses material that would otherwise become landfill, it reduces waste in manufacturing as well So, instead of adding to problems of resource consumption and pollution, carpet squares made from recycled materials help reduce them.
The squares are attached to each other and to the floor with adhesive dots. They can be installed on most clean, level, dry underlayment or existing floor. If the surface underneath is waxed or varnished, check with the manufacturer before you use any adhesives on it.
How to Install Carpet Squares
1. Take the squares out of the package. Be sure the room is well ventilated. Carpet squares should be at room temperature for at least 12 hours before you lay them down.
2. Check the requirements for the recommended adhesive. You can install carpet squares over many other flooring materials, including hardwood, laminates, and resilient sheets or tiles. The carpet squares shown here are fastened with adhesive dots, so almost any existing floor provides a usable surface.
3. Make sure the existing floor is clean, smooth, stable, and dry Use floor leveler if necessary to eliminate any hills or valleys. If any part of the floor is loose. secure it to the subfloor or underlayment before you install the carpet squares. Vacuum the surface and wipe it with a damp cloth.
4. Snap chalk lines between diagonally opposite corners to find the center point for the room. In rooms with unusual shapes. determine the visual center and mark it Next, snap chalk lines across the center and perpendicular to the walls. This set of guidelines will show you where to start
5. Lay a base row of carpet squares on each side of the two guidelines. When you reach the walls, make note of how much you will need to cut. You should have the same amount to cut on each side. If not, adjust the center point and realign the squares.
6. Check the backs of the squares before you apply any adhesive. They should indicate a direction, using arrows or other marks, so that the finished pile has a consistent appearance. If you plan to mix colors, this is the time to establish your pattern.
7. Fasten the base rows in place using the manufacturer’s recommended adhesive. This installation calls for two adhesive dots per square. As you place each square, make sure it is aligned with the guidelines and fits tightly against the next square.
8. When you reach a wall, flip the last square over. Push it against the wall until it is snug. If you are planning a continuous pattern, align the arrows with the existing squares. If you are creating a parquet pattern, turn the new square 90 degrees before marking It.
9. Mark notches or draw a line across the back where the new square overlaps the next-to-last one. Using a sharp carpet knife, a carpenter’s square, and a tough work surface, cut along this line. The cut square should fit neatly in the remaining space.
10. At a door jamb, place a square face up where It will go. Lean the square against the jamb and mark the point where they meet Move the square to find the other cutline, and mark that as well. Flip the square over, mark the two lines using a carpenter’s square, and cut out the corner.
11. Finish all four base rows before you fill in the rest of the room. As you work, check the alignment of each row. If you notice a row going out of line, find the point where the direction changed, then remove squares back to that point and start again.
12. Work outward from the center so that you have a known reference for keeping rows straight Save the cut pieces from the ends. They may be useful for patching odd spaces around doorways, heat registers, radiator pipes, and when you reach the corners.
