Indoor-Outdoor Carpeting Essentials

There is nothing more pleasant to use or easy to take care of, than outdoor carpeting. It can make an old deck look new. Forget what you saw in the 1970s. These days, indoor-outdoor carpet is more than just green turf. Outdoor carpets are now designed for use on boats, decks, patios, porches, and any other outdoor area where you want something other than wood or concrete flooring. The yarn used to make the carpet is specially treated to resist fading in direct sunlight. The backing materials are formulated to resist damage from moisture. A large selection of colors and textures are available. The intermediate level handyman can tackle outdoor carpet installation in one day.

For easy-to-clean, fade- and stain-resistant carpet, choose material made from 100% UV olefin fibers. Indoor-outdoor carpet is available in varying grades of quality, color and weave. Do the touch testthe thicker the carpet feels, the higher the grade and durability. For areas that are prone to dampness or fully exposed to weather, make sure the carpet has an all-weather "marine" backing for moisture resistance.

Olefin was originally for outdoor carpeting and basements due to its resistance to moisture, mildew, water damage, staining, pilling, shedding and static. Now it's more widely used for its durability and wool-like feel and appearance. Olefin is dyed before it's made into a fiber and thus is colorfast. Over long periods of time, olefin can flatten and fade in direct sunlight. There are grades or qualities of carpeting used as indoor-outdoor. Economy grade grass carpet is good for all indoor areas and covered outdoor areas with low traffic. High grade grass carpet is good for all indoor areas and fully-exposed outdoor areas. High grade grass carpet with marine backing is best for fully exposed outdoor areas.

Once you have picked and purchased the color and type of carpeting, it is time to install it. The easiest way to do this is to first unroll the carpet in the place where it will be installed and allow it to expand for an hour. Center the carpet in the room. Position the carpet, allowing the edges to curl up against the wall. You should allow 3" on all sides for trimming. Corners are the tricky part. Trim around outside corners and protruding objects by making a vertical slice down the carpet. Cut the carpet from the top down to where it touches the floor. Once you have cut the carpet to fit perfectly

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