Carpeting Under an Existing Layout?

[Anonymous]

Sorry for posting under two threads, but I really want an answer!

My bride and I spent the day shopping for new carpet for the downstairs, but got talking with a decorator about the eventuality of carpeting upstairs, too. It's all the same age, and we have an open floor plan, so it makes sense to do the same or similar carpet. Simply put, we'll be going from a 12 year old Rose carpet to a yellow to fit our new scheme.....

The problem is the open floor plan, and my layout upstairs in what most people would call the game room. I have a 12 X 17 layout of traditional construction, with about 10 2 X 4 legs, sitting on the existing carpet. With plaster mountains, its too heavy to move, I think.

Any solutions?

Can you jack it up one leg at a time?

Carpet around the legs, leaving the next owner with some divots in the carpet?

Or just carpet up to the front of the layout, and cover the seam with drapes or whatever, again delaying the problem until we move (or I die, 'cause its too painful to even consider tearing down or moving the layout!)

Jeff

[Anonymous]

Sorry for posting under two threads, but I really want an answer!

My bride and I spent the day shopping for new carpet for the downstairs, but got talking with a decorator about the eventuality of carpeting upstairs, too. It's all the same age, and we have an open floor plan, so it makes sense to do the same or similar carpet. Simply put, we'll be going from a 12 year old Rose carpet to a yellow to fit our new scheme.....

The problem is the open floor plan, and my layout upstairs in what most people would call the game room. I have a 12 X 17 layout of traditional construction, with about 10 2 X 4 legs, sitting on the existing carpet. With plaster mountains, its too heavy to move, I think.

Any solutions?

Can you jack it up one leg at a time?

Carpet around the legs, leaving the next owner with some divots in the carpet?

Or just carpet up to the front of the layout, and cover the seam with drapes or whatever, again delaying the problem until we move (or I die, 'cause its too painful to even consider tearing down or moving the layout!)

Jeff

[Pennsy58]

Not an easy task if you are laying the carpet yourself. Any expirienced installer should not have a problem though. Your situation is not any different than having a pool table which usually is more of a pain to move than lift. They can lift the layout by the ends and pass the carpeting under. Sometimes passing a wood beam under the table to lift it from a remote area is an option. If you even suspect that the legs for your layout are not solid, I would recommend temporarily attaching 2x4 braces between the legs to prevent a leg from bending over. A secondary problem is stretching the carpeting once it's down. Again, professional installers are not unfamiliar with this problem. Make the installers aware of your unique situation before they install, and they can handle it.

[Pennsy58]

Not an easy task if you are laying the carpet yourself. Any expirienced installer should not have a problem though. Your situation is not any different than having a pool table which usually is more of a pain to move than lift. They can lift the layout by the ends and pass the carpeting under. Sometimes passing a wood beam under the table to lift it from a remote area is an option. If you even suspect that the legs for your layout are not solid, I would recommend temporarily attaching 2x4 braces between the legs to prevent a leg from bending over. A secondary problem is stretching the carpeting once it's down. Again, professional installers are not unfamiliar with this problem. Make the installers aware of your unique situation before they install, and they can handle it.

[Anonymous]

Welcome to the " I shoulda built it modular! " club! Be glad you're not moving...

Congrats on a bride that accepts your hobby without making you feel like some sort of lowlife for being creative and imaginative. Try this - remove 1 leg at a time if you can and carpet under the leg; reset the leg on a 6"x 6" square of 1/2" plywood to spread the weight and protect the new carpet for when you do move in future. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Welcome to the " I shoulda built it modular! " club! Be glad you're not moving...

Congrats on a bride that accepts your hobby without making you feel like some sort of lowlife for being creative and imaginative. Try this - remove 1 leg at a time if you can and carpet under the leg; reset the leg on a 6"x 6" square of 1/2" plywood to spread the weight and protect the new carpet for when you do move in future. Good luck!