Cutting carpet to install a hearth

[kickstart24]

I'm going to be adding a limestone hearth to my gas fireplace in a room that is already fully carpeted. So I'm going to need to cut the carpet in order to put down the hearth.

I'll have to hire a carpet installer to cut the carpet first since the masons that install the hearth don't do that work.

Is it possible to have a carpet installer come out, lift up the carpet and cut it, lay down tack strips around the cutout, and kick it all back in. Then measure the area that was cut out and get a piece of limestone that fits the cut out area? Or does the carpet really need to be cut out at the same time the hearth goes in so it can be tucked in after laying down tack strips?

 

[Whitenuckler]

I'm going to be adding a limestone hearth to my gas fireplace in a room that is already fully carpeted. So I'm going to need to cut the carpet in order to put down the hearth.

I'll have to hire a carpet installer to cut the carpet first since the masons that install the hearth don't do that work.

Is it possible to have a carpet installer come out, lift up the carpet and cut it, lay down tack strips around the cutout, and kick it all back in. Then measure the area that was cut out and get a piece of limestone that fits the cut out area? Or does the carpet really need to be cut out at the same time the hearth goes in so it can be tucked in after laying down tack strips?

If you still want carpet in the area and not LVP flooring, then you could just untack the carpet edges on that side of the room and roll it up to get it out of the way. There will be some pad too that might have some staples holding it down. Then after the new hearth is installed, the carpet guys would add more tack strip around the hearth, cut, and tug it in.

 

[kickstart24]

If you still want carpet in the area and not LVP flooring, then you could just untack the carpet edges on that side of the room and roll it up to get it out of the way. There will be some pad too that might have some staples holding it down. Then after the new hearth is installed, the carpet guys would add more tack strip around the hearth, cut, and tug it in.

Thanks. The only issue is the guys installing the hearth are separate from the guys who would do the carpet. Getting them both onsite at the same time would be difficult. So I'd like to get the carpet work done first, then install the hearth at a later date.

Would it be possible to have the carpet guys roll the carpet back so it's out of the way, place the hearth in the correct position, put tack strips around it, then cut the carpet and tuck it in. Then on another day, the other crew can remove the hearth and secure it properly?

 

[Whitenuckler]

Thanks. The only issue is the guys installing the hearth are separate from the guys who would do the carpet. Getting them both onsite at the same time would be difficult. So I'd like to get the carpet work done first, then install the hearth at a later date.

Would it be possible to have the carpet guys roll the carpet back so it's out of the way, place the hearth in the correct position, put tack strips around it, then cut the carpet and tuck it in. Then on another day, the other crew can remove the hearth and secure it properly?

Yes that's what you do, get the carpet rolled back ahead of time. You can probably get some help and do that yourself. Once you get the corner started it's easy. You could even leave the pad down and put some tarps down where they will be crossing over and working. They can cut out the pad in that spot.

 

[kickstart24]

Yes that's what you do, get the carpet rolled back ahead of time. You can probably get some help and do that yourself. Once you get the corner started it's easy. You could even leave the pad down and put some tarps down where they will be crossing over and working. They can cut out the pad in that spot.

I think the rolled back carpet would get in the way of the stone installers. What I would like to do is have the carpet installers do their work entirely, leaving a cut out in the carpet ready to go for the hearth. Then when those guys show up, they can install stone on the wall and lay down the hearth. Would that work?

 

[Whitenuckler]

I think the rolled back carpet would get in the way of the stone installers. What I would like to do is have the carpet installers do their work entirely, leaving a cut out in the carpet ready to go for the hearth. Then when those guys show up, they can install stone on the wall and lay down the hearth. Would that work?

You can roll all of the carpet up against the wall. You can't get the carpet installer to do it all unless you get the hearth builders to put in the base first. Then the hearth builders will be building on your carpet either way.

 

[kickstart24]

You can roll all of the carpet up against the wall. You can't get the carpet installer to do it all unless you get the hearth builders to put in the base first. Then the hearth builders will be building on your carpet either way.

Here is a picture of the room. I would have to roll the carpet off the back wall and leave the carpet partly rolled up in the middle of the room. I think that would get in the way of the stone installers.

The problem is I can't get the stone installer and carpet installer at the same time. I need the carpet people to completely finish their work first. This is why I was thinking about having them make the cuts and just leave a hole in the carpet ready to go for a hearth. I can have the limestone hearth custom made to the exact size of the carpet cutout.

 

[Whitenuckler]

Here is a picture of the room. I would have to roll the carpet off the back wall and leave the carpet partly rolled up in the middle of the room. I think that would get in the way of the stone installers.

The problem is I can't get the stone installer and carpet installer at the same time. I need the carpet people to completely finish their work first. This is why I was thinking about having them make the cuts and just leave a hole in the carpet ready to go for a hearth. I can have the limestone hearth custom made to the exact size of the carpet cutout.

I think you have the two contractors work it out, however the order of the job is roll the carpet back half way in the room, then build the hearth. Any contractor can roll the carpet back.

 

[stoveliker]

And any contractor can step over 10" of a carpet roll...?

 

[Whitenuckler]

And any contractor can step over 10" of a carpet roll...?

I guess not...should roll it past the door opening. And start untacking it where the carpet will be cut.

 

[kickstart24]

And any contractor can step over 10" of a carpet roll...?

Is this supposed to be sarcastic? I was concerned about the roll of carpet getting in the way. I just need to have this all planned out in advance

 

[stoveliker]

No it was not.
But I don't think contractors, working on construction sites, would have an issue stepping over something like this. Not much more than 1.5 times a stairs step.

Contractors are used the working in messy places.

 

[Whitenuckler]

No it was not.
But I don't think contractors, working on construction sites, would have an issue stepping over something like this. Not much more than 1.5 times a stairs step.

Contractors are used the working in messy places.

It is a valid point. They will probably frame it up in a garage or outside, but the cutting of stone or tile and mixing ext is done outside. The white hat safety managers are always looking for tripping hazards on work sites. It only takes a second or a distraction and a person could trip. The extra effort to roll it back further is not a big deal. Just remember if you don't get the carpet company to do it, you will have more liability in case someone damages the carpet. It needs to be "un-kicked out" gently

 

[Whitenuckler]

Here is a picture of the room. I would have to roll the carpet off the back wall and leave the carpet partly rolled up in the middle of the room. I think that would get in the way of the stone installers.

The problem is I can't get the stone installer and carpet installer at the same time. I need the carpet people to completely finish their work first. This is why I was thinking about having them make the cuts and just leave a hole in the carpet ready to go for a hearth. I can have the limestone hearth custom made to the exact size of the carpet cutout.

One other thought - the carpet must/should be tucked under baseboard or trim. It cannot be floating. They usually put their nailing strip an inch from the baseboard and then tuck it under. I learned this when I was doing a basement that they were going to have carpeted. I put the baseboards on first leaving a gap.

 

[kickstart24]

One other thought - the carpet must/should be tucked under baseboard or trim. It cannot be floating. They usually put their nailing strip an inch from the baseboard and then tuck it under. I learned this when I was doing a basement that they were going to have carpeted. I put the baseboards on first leaving a gap.

How would you tuck the carpet under the hearth?I'm assuming you would want to do something similar and install the tack strips an inch from the edge of the hearth

 

[Whitenuckler]

How would you tuck the carpet under the hearth?I'm assuming you would want to do something similar and install the tack strips an inch from the edge of the hearth

I'd ask your carpet guys about it. They may have other solutions they use in those cases. I don't know what the design of the hearth on the edges is like?