Fitted carpet

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Fitted carpet, also wall-to-wall carpet or carpeting, is a carpet intended to cover a floor entirely and permanently.

Fitted carpets offer comfort and some soundproofing, they are however hard to clean, and can trap dirt and mites, sometimes causing allergic reactions.

Fitted Carpets were originally woven together to the dimensions of the specific area they were covering and were later made in smaller strips, around the time stair carpet became popular, and woven at the site of the job by the carpet fitter. These carpets were then held in place using a tacking system around the perimeter and occasionally small rings in the carpet which were folded over.

The introduction of 'smoothedge' now better know as 'Gripper' or 'Carpet Gripper' upped the quality in fitted carpets and the ease of carpet fitting, increasing the neatness of the finish at the wall. Gripper rod gives a level edge, whereas tacking gives an uneven edge. Gripper is a 5' X 1" strip of wood bevelled on one edge with many small spikes protruding through. It is placed around the perimeter with the bevelled edge side nearest the wall and held in place with nails (timber floors) or glue (concrete floor). Once held in place, the carpet fits over it and is wedged into the narrow gully left between the wall and bevelled side giving a smooth edge.

Gluing without underlay or gripper is simpler as the carpet is simply cut to the wall by the fitter and glued underneath, without the need for the work of cutting underlay or gripper. However carpet is much less plush without underlay, and uneven floorboards in old houses can become visible.

Some carpets also require stretching of the carpet with a 'Knee Kicker' or 'Stretcher', however most are laid without this.