Replacing carpets in caravan

[Anonymous]

hello all

The carpet on our 2001 Swift Classique 2 berth needs to be changed. Has
anyone diy-ed this type of job? What are the pitfalls? apart from bodging
it :-)

We have also thought about using lino as a first layer with a removable cut
out carpet. Opinions sought

Thanks
Mick

[Anonymous]

"Mick" <mick@wainwrightbm.freeserve.co.uk> wrote in message
news:c4k6sp$p91$1@newsg1.svr.pol.co.uk...
hello all

The carpet on our 2001 Swift Classique 2 berth needs to be changed. Has
anyone diy-ed this type of job? What are the pitfalls? apart from
bodging
it :-)

We have also thought about using lino as a first layer with a removable
cut
out carpet. Opinions sought

The first thing - no the second thing we did when we bought our
second-hand-very-old-very-small caravan was remove the carpet. The first was
to remove the curtains and replace them with venetian blinds.

The carpet was long pile and impossible to clean in use (no electricity) and
the hens found all sorts of yummy things in it which put us off standing on
it.

So after the first use we took it up and replaced it with cheap 'parquet'
tiles from Homebase, about 10p each I think. They are very easy to sweep
clean - or wipe if you're fussy - and for those who I KNOW are going to say
they're cold to walk on, we put down sheepskins top step on with bare feet
during the night. We've never been cold. But we have avoided spills going on
carpets and being impossible to clean.

It worked so well we did the same in the second, even older and even smaller
caravan which is now permanently on a daughter's farm so prone to having
'stuff' carried in on shoes.

We've replaced the carpets in the house too. They soak up muck and are a
haven for living things.

Mary

Thanks
Mick

[Anonymous]

On Fri, 2 Apr 2004 18:11:53 +0100, "Mick"
<mick@wainwrightbm.freeserve.co.uk> wrote:

hello all

The carpet on our 2001 Swift Classique 2 berth needs to be changed. Has
anyone diy-ed this type of job? What are the pitfalls? apart from bodging
it :-)

We have also thought about using lino as a first layer with a removable cut
out carpet. Opinions sought

Thanks
Mick



Hi Mick,
Many small carpet shops have a rug making machine and make rugs where
the edge is well stitched etc.
If you measure up I am sure they would be able to make a piece of
carpet to fit the shape that has the edges stitched a la fireside rug.

HTH

Ed

[Anonymous]

In article <c4k6sp$p91$1@newsg1.svr.pol.co.uk>, mick@wainwrightbm.freeserve.co.uk
wrote

hello all

The carpet on our 2001 Swift Classique 2 berth needs to be changed. Has
anyone diy-ed this type of job? What are the pitfalls? apart from bodging
it :-)
We have also thought about using lino as a first layer with a removable cut
out carpet. Opinions sought
Thanks
Mick

Did this a few years ago. Hell of a fiddly job.
Did this:
a]Removed the old carpet intact - important.
b]Placed the old carpet flat on the driveway face up.
c]Got the new carpet and cut to approximate size.
d]Placed new carpet face up over old carpet and positioned so the extra [3"] was even
all arround.
e] Rolled both into a roll and then unrolled so both were face down with the old
carpet on top of the new both with underside up.

Laborious I know but I cocked up doing it before :-))

f]Placed a length of thick corugated cardboard under the edge to be trimmed.
g]Trimed new carpet to shape using old as template leaving excess in certain parts
according to where the carpet fits flush with skirtings etc.
h]Rolled new carpet and placed at one end in van. I started at the washroom end cause
the shape was more awkward [wider] than the rest. [Sort of 'T' shaped]When rolled out
I then had to move I then had to move it about - more twisting and turning to get it
lined up using the straight [ish] edges where it was to fit flush to fittings.
i]When satisfied it was positioned right I then banged in a couple of staples in the
corners so I wouldn't move it out of alignment as I moved about.
j]Where the carpet edge could be squeezed under and into places where the edge would
be out of sight I did leaving only the straight bits flush to the fittings to trim
and this was the hardest job of all. I bought a piece of 'L' shaped bathroom PVC
edging strip to act as a protective guide and placed it at the edge of the carpet to
be trimmed so it would protect the side of the fittings and the floor fom the blade.
Then I trimmed away using a metal ruler on top of the carpet to push it tight and as
a straight edge for the balde to follow.

The carpet will stretch a tad after fitting so try not to leave too much excess if
you can. My van was not too bad cause the internal floor dimension and shape was
manageable. There are some others which I'd not attempt.

BTW - wear some sort of glove.

HTH

Good luck