carpet question

Joe Prochazka · #1 (**permalink**) 09-30-2002, 10:31 AM

I am a fairly good mechanic but was never very good at laying carpet. I am about ready to put the interior carpet in my car and have had the large pieces laying over a rafter for about 3 months try ing to get creases to pull themselves out.

The carpet arrived folded and then rolled up, so where the fold was made there is a crease.

What is the best way to get the crease to go away? Lay the carpet in the sun for a while? Heat gun?

flipper35 · #2 (**permalink**) 09-30-2002, 12:26 PM

A clean driveway and warm sunlight will usually do the trick.

Mr.Fixit · #3 (**permalink**) 09-30-2002, 12:47 PM

I second the warm sun and driveway trick. But it is chilly here today with little sun, maybe the warm season has passed. After you get the creases out, you can focus on getting the carpet to bend in the right places, with patience and a good heat gun.

Joe Prochazka · #4 (**permalink**) 09-30-2002, 02:28 PM

Flipper, Fixit-
Thanks for your help. Looks like I will be installing carpet next weekend.

Jack21 · #5 (**permalink**) 09-30-2002, 03:13 PM

The trick to the carpeting is the insulation between the floorboard and carpet. Summit carries double faced aluminum padding, about $40 a roll. Put this in the footwells, and over the trans tunnel foreward of the dash.

Pep Boys, Trak, and the like carry single faced aluminum padding typically used in vans for insulation. Use this from about the dash on back, under the seats, and rear pannel. A piece in each door doesn't hurt either.

While you're in Trak, Pep Boys, there's a 3M adhesive in a spray can specifically for this. Get a case of it.

Properly insulated, your foot boxes won't roast your feet from the hot headers, and the engine heat transmitted through the floorboards should be minimal.

Might take you 3 weekends instead of 1, but you'll thank yourself when the car is on the street.

wadesdad · #6 (**permalink**) 10-01-2002, 08:17 AM

I second Jack21's opinion. The insulation is a must.

P.S.---- MAN does that 3M spray give you a headache even in ventillated areas!

Joe Prochazka · #7 (**permalink**) 10-01-2002, 12:23 PM

Yep-
I've got 2 4x6 sheets of insulation. I got the single side stuff and was going to install it with the shiny side down. Then I was going to attach the carpet to the fuzzy side with the 3M.

Is there a better way like maybe velcro or something? Seems like the fuzzy side would not be the best thing to try to bond carpet to.

What have you guys done?

wadesdad · #8 (**permalink**) 10-01-2002, 06:25 PM

I used shiny side up for 3 reasons

1. Easier to use the metal seam tape on a similar material

2. If I get caught in a downpour, it gave me the impression there would be less to dry out. In my imagination, the foil side would act a little like a moisture barrier.

3. Seemed like the only way to adhere the carpet to the underlayment.