Do-it-yourself carpet for the car floor

Repair and decoration

06/01/2018 Anastasia Prozheva

Many people spend a lot of time in the car. The comfort of the car is given not only by comfortable seats, but also by the floor covering. And they cover the floor of the car with carpet. Just not the kind you put at home, but a special one.

Choosing car carpet is quite difficult. Today there is a wide selection of materials on the market. Therefore, before purchasing, you need to familiarize yourself with all the offers, and only then settle on a specific sample. In addition to the floor covering that is installed in the car interior, a wide selection of car mats is presented to the consumer.

Types of car carpets

The material presented on the shelves of auto stores can be divided into 2 groups. The first group includes all products consisting of two layers. The second group includes three-layer products. The basis of all products is a rubberized fabric, and the upper part is made of synthetic pile.

Three-layer products have another layer, which is located between the rubber base and synthetic pile. In the manufacture of this layer, polymer materials are used, which, after hardening, become moisture-proof.

Three-layer products have a higher pricing policy. If we compare them with two-layer analogues, it is worth noting that they are more wear-resistant and have a longer service life. In addition, moisture that gets onto the mat along with shoes does not reach the floor of the car, which protects it from corrosion.

Car carpet has many different design solutions. It all depends on the manufacturing technology of the top layer of the product. The cheapest floor coverings are produced using the needlepunch method.

The essence of this method is that several layers of synthetic fiber are applied to the base. Then it is processed with needles, the edges of which have jagged edges. After this treatment, the synthetic fibers are intertwined quite tightly with the base. To make the product more durable, its canvas is glued to a rubber base. Then, they are sent under the press.

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Due to its budget pricing policy, needle-punched car carpet is the most popular. It is abrasion resistant and has increased strength.

Tufted car carpet , which looks more interesting than needle-punched is a little more expensive Its production technology assumes that synthetic pile is threaded into the base. Then, the base is secured with adhesive. The result is a looped fiber. However, it is more difficult to care for than needlepunch.

The most expensive type is woven . It is usually installed in luxury cars. Jute fabric is used in the manufacture of the product. It is 100% environmentally friendly and has increased durability. This product has a long service life and is resistant to abrasion. Woven car mats have one drawback - high pricing.

Choosing carpet for a car

When choosing carpet for your car, follow a few tips.

The density of the carpet itself and its base directly affects its reliability and durability. If you actively use your car, then it is better to purchase a three-layer carpet with very durable pile.
The length of the pile of the carpet is of great importance. Carpets with long pile are practically not used for cars, since it is very difficult to clean dirt from such pile. Therefore, it is better to buy carpet with minimal short pile, it is more practical.
Regarding the color of the coating, it is better to choose the one whose threads are colored in the majority. Since a car carpet that is treated with surface painting will very quickly lose its color.

It’s good, of course, when all the carpets in the car are completely replaced. There are manufacturers who make such kits for all types of cars, but it will be very expensive to buy, and not everyone can replace them themselves.

How to choose car carpet

In order for the product to serve for a long period of time, it is necessary to choose samples with synthetic pile densely located on the base. If the car is used actively, then you should not purchase two-layer products. You should also pay attention to the strength of the pile.

Another characteristic that should be taken into account is the length of the pile. Products with short pile are more durable. In addition, they are much easier to care for. Cleaning long pile from dirt that gets on the product sometimes becomes an impossible task. The only way out in this case is to replace the car mats.

It is worth taking a closer look at the color of the product, or, more precisely, its intensity. If the coloring of synthetic pile was done superficially, then in the near future it will begin to discolor. It is worth purchasing a product whose top layer was painted along with the base on which the pile was applied.

How to choose car carpet?

When choosing auto carpet to renew your floor, consider:

Type of material. It is better to lay a two-layer carpet with a rubber backing - it is more reliable and durable. Dirt and water from the shoes will be retained by the waterproof rubber base.
Density and thickness. If you are an active user of the machine, then choose blades with a density of 2800 and a thickness of 6 mm or more.
Pile length. Too long and fluffy pile is not practical - it is difficult to clean. It is better to choose options with short pile - no more than 5 mm in height. Density 700 is an indicator of moderate density, it is easier to work with when wet cleaning.

To make your flooring last longer, be sure to place rugs on it. The ideal material for them is EVA foam rubber. It is environmentally friendly, elastic, wear-resistant. But its main advantage is its cellular structure. These honeycombs collect water and debris that can be easily removed. Do not make car mats from ordinary linoleum - all the dirt will immediately flow onto the carpet, which means that after six months you will have to change the covering again.

Car carpet replacement

Replacing car carpet is not so easy. The product must follow the shape of the car floor, which has many protrusions and depressions. If you decide to make a car carpet with your own hands, then you need to be patient.

To make car carpet you will need the material itself, a tool for cutting it, a powerful sewing machine, an overlocker, adhesive and a hair dryer.

First of all, you need to dismantle the old flooring. To do this, you must first remove the seats and all removable parts located in the cabin. Old flooring must be removed in such a way as to preserve its integrity as much as possible. We will need it when creating the pattern.

The pre-prepared car carpet must be laid out on a flat surface. An old car carpet or pattern is laid on it. All contours of the pattern need to be traced. This is the most important stage of the work. Once the material is cut, it will be extremely difficult to fix anything. Using a cutting tool, you need to cut out the new floor covering along the contour.

After the material is cut along the contour, it is necessary to make holes for fastenings for seats, gearboxes, etc. In those places where the product will lie curved, it is necessary to make trimming.

All that remains is to thread the edges of the product and sew the parts. You should try to hide the seam as much as possible under synthetic pile. The final result largely depends on what material was chosen.

The next step is laying the product. All holes must be aligned. After installation, the car carpet should be slightly wetted and stretched. In this case, all folds formed during installation should be smoothed out.

To smooth out wrinkles formed on the material in the manufacture of which polymers were used, it can be slightly heated. It is better if the product dries in a stretched state. Therefore, it is advisable to dismantle it and fix it in a tense state until it dries completely. Then, perform final installation using a special adhesive for fixation.

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You can also make several car mats that will decorate the interior of the car. To make them, you should take thick material. First of all, we make a paper pattern. Then, we transfer it to the car carpet and cut out the product along the contours. We process the edges using an overlocker. You can trim them with a leather border. This is where the making of car mats with your own hands ends.

Do-it-yourself car carpet reupholstery

Home / House construction / Flooring / Car carpet reupholstery with your own hands

Car carpet: choosing, installing, caring for

Car carpet is a covering that is laid on the floor of a car to give it an attractive appearance and provide comfort. At the same time, the interior receives additional protection from dust and dirt, which is also an important factor in operation.

Choosing carpet for a car is a rather difficult task. The thing is that the range of models is quite extensive, and therefore it is possible to settle on one option only after a detailed analysis of all the opportunities available. In our article we will try to make this choice easier for you, and will also describe the process of caring for carpet and installing it when replacing it.

The carpet laid in the cabin protects the floor from moisture and dirt

Car carpets available for sale can be of several types:

Two-layer coating. The basis of such material is a rubber or rubberized cloth, on top of which synthetic pile is glued. This variety is considered budget, since its price is quite affordable even for owners of economy class cars.
Three-layer coating is more expensive, but at the same time higher quality and durable. In the case of a three-layer carpet, a polymer waterproof fabric is glued onto the rubber base, and a decorative part with synthetic pile is fixed on top.

Three-layer variety with waterproof layer

The use of three-layer carpet is justified if you actively operate the car in bad weather conditions. Dirt and water flowing from shoes are reliably retained by the waterproof fabric, and thanks to this, the floor of the car is not subject to corrosion. In addition, three-layer varieties are less prone to abrasion.

A variety of models of finishing materials, which differ in the type of decorative layer, can be installed in the car interior. We will analyze the most popular varieties in the next section.

Based on the type of covering, car carpet is divided into the following groups:

Woven. The basis of the product is jute fabric, which is environmentally friendly, strong and durable. Woven varieties of carpeting are extremely rarely used for interior decoration, since the cost of their production is quite comparable to the cost of manufacturing a carpet. And yet, woven material can be installed in a premium car.

Note! Some car enthusiasts use the carpet left over from finishing a room to produce car mats. This is a completely acceptable solution, especially if the color scheme of the coating is in harmony with the color of the car's finish.

Tufted coating. The production technology combines threading into the base mechanically and then securing it with special adhesives. Tufted car carpet is cheaper, but its performance qualities are very high. And the appearance of this coating is very pleasant.
Needle punched material is produced by mechanical processing of synthetic fiber. The coating is quite durable and at the same time cheap. Needle-punched coatings are widely used in the industrial production of automobile components.

As you can see, when choosing carpet in a car, you can focus not only on its color scheme. The internal structure of the material can be different, and this largely determines how durable the carpet will be.

To conclude this section, I would like to give a few recommendations for those who choose carpet for car floor mats:

The denser the coating itself and its base, the more durable and reliable the carpet. For active use, you should choose three-layer models with the most durable bristles.
The length of the pile also matters. Long-pile varieties of car carpet are almost never installed in cars for the obvious reason: it will be very difficult to clean dirty threads. So it is better to choose models with short pile as they are more practical.

The shorter the pile, the more practical it is

As for coloring, you should give preference to those brands whose threads are dyed in the mass. Car carpet treated with surface painting discolors very quickly.

Of course, the ideal option is to purchase a kit to completely replace the interior. Some companies produce such sets of material focused on the floor configuration of cars of the most popular brands.

Choosing coverage for the car interior

Making carpet for a car is very simple, and when sewing it, it is treated with all the necessary mixtures to avoid rotting and easy ignition. Let's note the main production methods so that you can navigate which is better and what is worth purchasing and what you can skip.

Woven carpet

Photo of woven flooring

The first method is called woven and it consists in making such products on a natural jute base. This is the most durable carpet, which has a high price. After all, it is made using the same method as a regular carpet, and this is quite expensive. Not recommended for use in cars.

Tufted carpet

Photos of tufted products

The second method is tufting and it involves inserting a thread with a needle.

into the base, which is subsequently secured with an adhesive composition. This coating is much better quality. The coating is produced quickly and, accordingly, the price of the product is cheaper. A good choice for using the material in the car interior.

Needle-punched carpet

Photo of needle-punched material

The third method is needle-punched technology. Its essence is to reveal the synthetic mass that is whipped with needles. The result is a fairly durable and at the same time inexpensive material. The main advantage is its low cost, and also the fact that this is the best option for a car.

Coating operation

Replacement technology

Replacing carpet in a car is a much more difficult task than it seems at first glance. The thing is that the coating, originally installed in the cabin, is produced by hot stamping, and therefore its contours follow all the protrusions and depressions on the floor of the car. It is quite difficult to make such parts with your own hands, but we will still try to give recommendations that will help in solving this problem.

Advice! If possible, you should still try to restore the worn coating. We will tell you how to do this in the section on car mat care.

Replacing carpet in a car with your own hands involves completely dismantling the old trim.

For work we will need:

Roll of replacement material.
Carpet cutter.
Sewing machine with the ability to sew carpet.
Overlock.
Glue, mastic or double-sided tape to secure the material.
Hairdryer for heating the polymer insert.

The replacement instructions are as follows:

Open the car doors and remove the seats. We also dismantle all parts that may interfere with our work.
Carefully remove the old carpet, trying not to damage other elements of the interior trim.
We lay out the material that is intended for replacement on the floor. Having smoothed out all the folds and smoothed the carpet, we mark the places where it is necessary to make cuts.
If possible, then it is much easier to make a pattern according to the size and configuration of the old coating. Having made a template using this pattern, you can easily trim new material.