Generally, laying carpet over plywood is a good idea. Plywood is strong and durable and works well as a subfloor for carpet. Wood underlayment is more comfortable to walk on than concrete or tile because it is flexible.
It will stay put with a quality rug pad. Rug pads provide comfort. Most outdoor rugs are fairly thin so adding a pad helps to make them more comfortable to walk on. Look for a thick rug pad to give yourself an extra soft surface to walk on.
If you are covering the entire deck, don't have the carpet meet any exterior walls or solid deck walls. This will lead to water buildup and attract bugs. It will also be harder to clean out wet leaves, dirt and debris.
Outdoor carpet is often made from UV-stable fibers like polyethylene and polypropylene, meaning it's not going to fade in direct sunlight. It's also mold and mildew resistant, and even water-resistant.
Another nice benefit to Indoor-Outdoor carpet? Padding is not required during installation, which helps provide some cost savings. If you're planning to install it in an enclosed outdoor space, it's recommended that you skip the padding entirely.
However, you cannot install indoor/outdoor carpeting directly on dirt because the adhesive won't harden on surfaces containing debris. The carpeting will also roll up and cause you to possibly trip on dirt floors.
Plywood can be waterproofed with paint, polyurethane, or epoxy finish. Lightly sand the plywood with 180 grit sandpaper, clean off any sawdust, and apply the finish with a brush or by pouring the finish on if using epoxy. That's a general overview, but lets look a little bit deeper into the specifics of each method.
Spray an even layer of spray adhesive on both the plywood and the backside of the carpeting. Work quickly because spray adhesive dries fast. The adhesive will help secure the carpeting to the plywood. Place the carpeting on the plywood, adhesive side down, and align the material using a level.
Use a spray adhesive to glue carpet to wood surfaces. From covering wood floors to concrete, carpeting is durable, requires minimum maintenance and is available in a variety of colors. When gluing carpet to wood, it is important to measure and cut the carpet before applying the glue.
Foam or rubber padding are the go-to materials for carpet underlayment. In most cases, carpet underlayment is made to include a moisture barrier, especially in basements where flooding is more likely to occur.
Position the carpet pad on the subfloor so that any seams will be at right angles to the seams in the carpet. When you lay the carpet over the pad, its seams should be perpendicular to the seams of the padding. Use a carpet trimmer or sharp utility knife to cut the carpet pad to fit the length of the room.
While indoor/outdoor carpet (also known as marine-backed carpet) looks similar to commercial carpet, there are actually some pretty key differences.
A majority of indoor-outdoor rugs are made of synthetic materials like polyester and polypropylene. These materials are very durable and stain-resistant, and they also come in a wide variety of colors and patterns. And many polypropylene rugs are also UV resistant, so their colors don't fade in the sunlight.
Yes and no. Most outdoor rugs made of synthetic fibers or polypropylene are perfect for outdoor conditions and will keep your deck in good shape. However, using other outdoor carpet materials can gradually damage your deck and patio. The bottom line is: always go for the best outdoor rugs for wood decks.
If your outdoor rug gets wet, it will most likely mildew and create unhealthy conditions which could potentially cause a mold to grow. Your outdoor rug can also be ruined by mildew which would then call for a replacement.
You can put an outdoor rug on a concrete patio without damaging either the rug or the concrete, provided you seal the concrete first and fix the rug down with flooring tape or adhesive. Patio rugs are usually made of polypropylene so are water, mold, mildew, and UV resistant.
Although outdoor rugs are typically mold and mildew resistant, the dirt and moisture that accumulates on them is where these pesky fungi can grow. When cleaning an outdoor rug with mildew, dirt, stains and general grime, some common household items that people reach for include dish soap, white vinegar and baking soda.
Use masking tape instead of sticky double-sided tape, which might permanently stick to your floor by mistake. Simply roll up a small, flat ball of masking tape and stick each handful of tape under the stubborn corners of your rug. This simple method works like a charm, especially in homes with wood or tile floors.
Use rug gripper or tape
One option is to place a rug gripper in strips at the bottom of your rug - at the corners or along the length - to hold it in place. This way, your rug won't get bunched up or have curled ends, preventing you from slipping over it.