CARPET LAYING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18963, 10 March 1925, Page 13

CARPET LAYING.

The wearing qualities of carpets depend largely on the kind of floor over which they are laid and whether or not an efficient underlay is provided. The most satisfactory method of carpenting a room is to have a carpet several feet shorter and narrower than the room in which it is to be used; this gives a fairly wide surround and allows the position of the carpet to be changed,.

A well laid board or block floor need only be stained and polished, but as the boards of many floors fit badly this method is not always possible. Such surrounds can be covered with dark oak board linoleum (which, when polished, closely resembles floor boards), with cork carpet, felt, or plain carpet in a contrasting colour or with Indian straw batting. When buying material for the surrounds, careful measurement is necessary. First measure the length ami breadth of the room, and multiply to get the area of the whole floor; from this subtract the area of the carpet, having calculated the carpet to be a few inches longer and wider than it, actually is, in order to allow for a small overlap. The difference gives the number of square feet of material to form the surround. To prepare the floor, first remove any nails or'old tacks; knocking them in is bad policy, for they are very likely to work up aft ft- the floor has been walked over a short time. Knot holes and cracks should be filled with wood filler, or, if the holes arc fairly considerable, papier mache can bo used. Soak some old magazine papef in warm water, add a little stiff flour paste, and beat until the paper is reduced to a stiff pulp. Press this into the holes with a putty, palette or old table knife. When thoroughly dry, the papier 'mache forms a hard, strong filling. Any projecting boards should bo planed off, or they will play havoc with the carpet When the boards are thoroughly clean and dry, the underlay can be placed in position. If this has to be bought, underlay felt is the, most, economical: special felt containing cedar wood is a deterrent to moths. A worn or faded carpet can be utilised" as an underlay, but I lie utmost care is necessary to see, that it is free from dust and moth eggs before being used. Tlio advantages of an underlay cannot be over-estimated; it, deadens sound, makes the lloor more resilient, prolongs the life of 'the carpet, and prevents the dust which works through the floor board joints soiling the carpet, for economy, felt, paper, or sacking can be used, but thev arc far less satisfactory.

Plum the cnrppl in position, I nek one end, knocking the tacks only lialf in, and pull tightly* at. the opposilo end. lakinK rare not 1o stretch en* pull the earpet slantwise. AVhen I lie earpet is absolutely tjiuf. anrl flat tlx H with as few tacks as possible.