Carpet - Adhesive versus contact cement

[Pun]

Well, I just glued the carpeet down in my ski well and I just gotta say - What a mess! There's gotta be a better way. I've been considering using contact cement. There's so many nooks and crannys in this boat. I think I'm about to butcher it. <br /><br />What are your opinions? Pros and cons?<br /><br />Also, what kind of contact cement would have sufficient water resistance?<br /><br />I'm ready to pay a pro to put this stuff in...

 

[TELMANMN]

Re: Carpet - Adhesive versus contact cement

I believe most contact cement is waterproof, once cured. I have always used it as when still wet you can clean it up with water. What kind of glue did you use.

 

[noelm]

Re: Carpet - Adhesive versus contact cement

HI<br /> put carpet in a few of my boats now and always used contact adhesive to do it, get carpet to fit pretty good first, then start at one end put some glue on floor only (not carpet as well) only do a bit at a time the full width of the boat! roll out carpet and make sure you do not go all the way to the end of the spread glue, spread a bit more, roll out a bit more carpet, spread more glue, roll out. get the idea,make sure you use some sort of "tool" to push carpet into side of boat where floor meets side, easier if you have a helper of course, then when you get to the end of the boat just kneel on carpet to do last glue and roll, trim off any excess with a really sharp (new) utility knife

 

[f_inscreenname]

Re: Carpet - Adhesive versus contact cement

noelm <br />You have many good ideas and I say this with no disrespect, but contact works by coating both surfaces and letting it tack up first. Then when you press the carpet to the surface and it grabs it, locking it in place. I am a flooring installer and when we have to upholster something made of concrete (steps, porches, etc) you do all the flat areas with regular glue and contact the edges or the areas that have to wrap around. Contact will work on a outside porch so it will work fine in your boat. Just be careful. When I say it grabs it "I mean it grab it". Make sure the carpet is where it is supposed to be before you let it touch the other surface and you will be fine.

 

[noelm]

Re: Carpet - Adhesive versus contact cement

yep correct, however I have found that on carpet it only needs to be applied to the floor as it sorta 'soaks" into the carpet and if you do not follow contact adhesive instructions and do it the way I described you can indeed get a little but of "slip" before it grabs and believe me it does grab carpert real quick, I have had carpet in my boat out in the weather for 5 years now and it still had not lifted.