Good Carpet Guide – Tips and information about carpets

Carpet area is generally used in pricing flats. As the usable area of a flat may be different from the saleable area, there are different terms as the carpet area, the built-up area (or plinth area), and the super built-up area which is used to define the usable portion, gross area and gross area with common spaces of a flat, respectively. Carpet area is the net usable area of a flat, measured wall to wall from the inner parts of walls. We call it as carpet area because it is simply the area in a flat which can be covered by carpets. Some experts may add half of the area of a terrace while calculating the carpet area. Carpet area can be measured by simply measuring all the usable areas one by one and adding them together. For this, first, you need to measure side wall lengths of all rooms including kitchen, bathroom, and toilet. Then you should multiply those 2 wall lengths and obtain the area of a particular room. After performing the same procedure for all rooms, add the areas together and you will find the carpet area! If the shape of a room is not rectangular but something else, first you should draw the shape on a paper and try to divide it into known geometrical figures. After that, you can calculate the area of the figures you draw, and add them together to find the room area. Built-Up and Super Built-Up Areas Alternatively, if you know the value of built-up or super built-up areas, you can calculate the carpet area as well. Built up area (also known as the plinth area) is the gross area of a flat. It includes the space covered by ducts and wall thicknesses. That is why it is a little bit larger than the carpet area. If you know the wall thicknesses and duct areas of your flat, you can subtract them from the built-up area to find the carpet area. On the other hand, the super built-up area, which is the bigger one among all those area types, is generally considered as the saleable area. It can be calculated by adding some extra areas (common spaces like lifts, staircases, entrance lobby, electrical room, pump room, and flower beds) to the built-up area. To calculate the carpet area, you can use super built-up area, too. However, as I mentioned above, you need to know the areas of common spaces in order to do that. Normally the super built-up area is calculated by dividing the total common space area into equal parts and adding it to each flat proportionally. However, generally, as a rule of the thumb it is calculated by simply using a multiplying factor which generally equals to 1.25. Just divide the super built-up area to 1.25, and you will mostly obtain the carpet area. This actually means that the total saleable area is 1.25 times larger than the net usable area (aka carpet area). This extra 25% is known as the loading factor. For example, if your flat has a 250 square meters super built-up area, and if the loading factor is 25%, the carpet area of your flat will be 200 square meters. Loading factor may differ as well. Sometimes it can be calculated as 30%, or even smaller than the fixed value, like 20%. Since there is no legal regulation on the value of the loading factor, it may even go higher as 50-60% in some cases. So, before buying a flat, first make sure that you learn the actual carpet area. Measuring the Carpet Area As I said, carpet area is the net usable area which is measured wall to wall from the inner parts of the walls. Let me explain how to measure the carpet area with an example. Let's say you have a flat with 4 rooms, 2 bathrooms, 1 kitchen as well as a hallway and an entrance. Assume all of the rooms are rectangular and the wall length of the rooms are: Room 1: 3m x 4m Room 2: 5m x 4m Room 3: 3m x 3m Room 4: 3m x 4m Bathroom 1: 2m x 2m Bathroom 2: 2m x 1.5m Kitchen: 2m x 6m Hallway: 1m x 8m Entrance: 2m x 2m In order to calculate the carpet area, you should first calculate the areas of the rooms separately. Which are: Room 1: 3 x 4 = 12 square meters Room 2: 5 x 4 = 20 square meters Room 3: 3 x 3 = 9 square meters Room 4: 3 x 4 = 12 square meters Bathroom 1: 2 x 2 = 4 square meters Bathroom 2: 2 x 1.5 = 3 square meters Kitchen: 2 x 6 = 12 square meters Hallway: 1 x 8 = 8 square meters Entrance: 2 x 2 = 4 square meters Now, if we add these individual room areas together, we can find the carpet area (also know as the total net floor area). In this case, it is 12 + 20 + 9 + 12 + 4 + 3 + 12 + 8 + 4 = 84 meter-square. Let me give another example. Assume the super built-up area is 120 meter-square and the loading factor is 25%. How can you find the carpet area? To find the carpet area, you need to divide the super built-up area to a value X calculated using the loading factor. If loading factor is 25%, X value is (100 + 25) / 100 = 1.25. So if you divide the super built-up area to 1.25, you can find the value of the carpet area as 120 / 1.25 = 96 meter-square. Net and Gross Floor Areas The net square meters (net floor area) in a flat equal to the clean area between the walls. According to this, the sum of the areas of each room, bathroom, kitchen and balcony in the flat, is the net floor area. Door and window sills, columns, smoke, garbage, waste, plumbing and air chimneys and skylights, elevator and gallery shafts within the independent section, installation room, parking lot, shelter, woodshed, coal cellar, hydrophore and treatment plant area, water and fuel tanks and boiler room are not included in the net floor area. In addition to this, the places with at least one façade open like balconies, ground, roof and floor terraces, floor and roof gardens and spaces which are the extensions of the independent part, as well as the common places are not included within the independent net floor area. In the case when the independent part consists of the spaces located on multiple floors (including the loft) which are connected internally, the areas belonging to independent part on these floors are added together to calculate independent part net floor area. Calculating the Area of the Carpet for Stairs Choosing the carpet for the stairs may be a bit more difficult than choosing the carpet for other areas of the house. The main reason for this is to decide the right carpet style and color considering that particular staircase. At the same time, the carpet must be of suitable strength and thickness to be mounted on the stairs. But the most important thing is to calculate the area of the carpet you will use for the staircase. Calculating how much carpet you need for the staircase is one of the most difficult aspects of carpet installation. Because the stair carpets are rarely mounted in one piece and the details are very important in the calculations. Stairs meet general size standards unless your home is built entirely for you. You can examine the stair models from the internet and compare them with your own staircase dimensions so you can learn the type of your staircase. In general, a staircase leading from the ground floor to the upper floor of a house has 13 steps and the staircase leading to the basement from the main floor has 12 steps. Finally, regardless of the area you've calculated, you always need to buy a little extra to allow for any shortcomings or errors during installation. To calculate how much carpet you need for your stairs, you need to calculate the area of a single stair step. You can do this by multiplying the short and long edges of the step with each other. Then you have to multiply the height and the long edge of the step and add it to the result you found. You can then obtain the area of the carpet you need by multiplying the final result by the number of steps. There are several reasons for using carpet for stairs. The first reason is safety. The carpet can be used as a precaution to protect you against unwanted house accidents. The second reason is aesthetics. The ugly stairs are hard to fix. Even if your stairs look nice, scratches and tears may occur over time. Carpet is a more economical solution than rebuilding the entire staircase. Another important reason is noise. The footsteps from the stairs do not pose many problems at first but may be overwhelming with time. Covering the stairs with carpet will prevent this noise. Rather than replacing stairs, carpeting will often help you create an easier solution. Even if you prefer hard surfaces such as wood and laminate, carpeting is also useful in other ways than the aesthetics. Especially in the case of steps covered with hard flooring, carpeting can ensure your safety. Because hard surfaces are slippery and you can fall down easily. In the case of a fall, the carpet offers a much softer landing point than a wooden ladder, which can help reduce the possibility of an unwanted injury. Many people think that a thick carpet is more durable. But the truth is not always the case. In fact, some of the most durable carpets are the finest models. On the other hand, most of the thickest carpets are filled with air. Thickness is an important factor in terms of the suitability of the carpets to the stairs. However, a very thick carpet can be dangerous, because it can become a ramp against your foot without anything to support your foot, as you move downstairs. A very thick carpet may cause slips and falls, something that no one wants to have. Carpet Installation on Stairs Stair carpet rod models required for fixing and installing the stair carpets are also available. These rods are used to make your carpets and stairs look more elegant. You can utilize these stair carpet rods produced to adapt to different decoration styles. Stair carpet rod bottom bars are another product that you may need during installation. These products are also decorative products that you can use to get more stylish and compatible places. When choosing the stair carpet bar model that can be used for the reliable installation, you should make choices which will be in harmony with your stair carpet model. You can perform the installation in a simple way after getting stair carpet bars and stair carpet rods. Most stair carpets can be simply mounted using screws. However, depending on the specifications of the products you choose, you may need different tools for installation. If you think you have no experience with stair carpet installation, you can call for professional help. Because you may also disrupt the functionality and appearance of your carpets if you do not pay extra attention to the installation of carpets. Application of non-slip carpet fixing methods is extremely important for stair carpets. Otherwise, you may experience safety problems and serious accidents. At this point, self-adhesive stair carpets can be preferred for a more reliable and easy installation. However, you should never forget that these carpet models cannot adapt to every place. Each carpet model can be produced for different decorative styles. When you will cover your stairs with carpets, you should first determine what kind of decoration style you want. Standard Carpet Sizes Carpets, which are indispensable for home decoration, have different size options in addition to many different colors, patterns and weaving alternatives for the living room, children's room, dining room or kitchen areas. So what are the standard carpet sizes which we can choose? Of course, we need different carpet sizes according to the dimensions of the room we are planning to lay it. Providing two or more carpets with complementary designs instead of having a very large carpet for a large space can facilitate transport, washing, and relocation. Apart from the dimensions to be mentioned, the carpet manufacturers also produce carpets in special sizes, so it is useful to examine the specifications on the label. Living room carpet size: The carpets which are the most preferred for the living rooms, are generally 200 cm * 300 cm (or 290 cm) and have 6 square meters area. (In other words, the 6 m2 carpet size is 2 * 3 meters.) For smaller halls there are options like 2 meters width and 2,5 meters length carpets (5 m²), as well as: 175 * 280 (4,9 m²), 170 * 280 (4,76 m²) ), 170 * 250 (4.25 m²) carpets. Dining room carpet size: For dining rooms, carpets 1.5 m * 2.3 meters in size, ie 3.35 square meters carpets are the most common option. There are also larger alternatives including 160 * 230 (3.7 m²), 160 * 240 (3.8 square meters). Children's room carpet size: In general, smaller carpets are used in children's rooms which are often smaller than the other rooms. The most common of these are: 94 * 133 (1,25 m²), 80 * 150 (1,2 m²), 134 * 180 (2,4 m²), 133 * 188-190 (2,5 m²), 125 * 180 cm (2,25 m²), 140 * 200 cm (2,8 m²) or 120 * 170 cm (2 m²). Rug size: Carpets used in corridors are generally called as rugs and have 63, 66, 70, 80, 90, 100 or 120 cm width. Their length can be anything from 1 meter to 10 meters and they are also sold as a single piece without having to make additions to long corridors. It is not possible to suggest a certain carpet size for kitchens, due to different kitchen layouts. We may see kitchen carpets in many different sizes. The important thing for them is their durability against dirt, dust, odor, and moisture. Leveling the Carpet Area Typically, the ground floor consists of concrete slabs. They often have an uneven surface due to pits and flows, and the ground level drop can reach 5 or 10 cm. When laying carpets on an irregular surface like this, sometimes there are difficulties that invalidate the whole work. Therefore, you must ensure that there are no irregularities on the floor before you cover it with a carpet. The fact that the ground floor is not at the desired level before the carpet is laid can bring both mechanical and aesthetic problems. The level of the floor to be carpeted must be carefully measured, and if necessary, it should be leveled with ready-made floor leveling screeds. In cases where these materials are not used, situations like uncomfortable disturbances on the surface, unwanted noise coming from the floor while walking, difficulty in movement or breaking of the coating are inevitable. You can control the level of the ground evenly using water or laser. First, you need to find the highest point of the ground. The rest of the surface should be brought to this point. Signs must be marked on walls that correspond to the height of the highest point. Using a laser device, you can predict the curvature of the ground more easily, faster and more accurately. You can also use plywood beneath your carpet. Plywood flooring on a floor has the following advantages according to other leveling methods: forming a solid flooring that does not provide relief over time;no need to disassemble the old cover;reduce cost and labor intensive work (derived from the previous);material availability;the possibility of using moisture-resistant plywood to provide more protection on wooden floors in areas such as bathrooms, toilets, and kitchens;having minimum number of stitches between elements that are the weak point of any design. Materials Laid on the Carpet Area: Using Felt for Heating and Leveling The felt can be used solely for floor covering, as well as can be laid under the carpet for protection purposes. It is also obligatory in underfloor heating systems. The carpet felt is a low-cost material but provides great comfort. Felt not only extends your carpet's life by protecting it but also provides sound and heat insulation. Felts which can be produced by using polypropylene, polyester, and recycled fibers are non-woven, technical textile products which are produced for special uses and cost very low according to the usage period. They may have liquid attractant, liquid repellent, flexible, robust, soft, fire retardant, filtering, and antibacterial properties. The main raw material is fiber. Fiber can be categorized into 2 groups as natural and synthetic fibers. They can be used as staple or continuous fibers. The advantages of felt are listed below: - helps to level the disturbances on the floor where it is laid.- prevents insects when laid under the carpet.- gives your carpet saturation.- increases the comfort of your carpet.- provides a certain amount of sound insulation.- also provides a certain amount of thermal insulation.- is an unrivaled floor covering due to its favorable price in underfloor heating.- helps to release moisture from the floor. Is Balcony Included in Carpet Area? The distance between the inner walls of your flat is equal to the carpet area. All of the rooms, as well as kitchen, bathroom, and toilet is included in the carpet area. But it doesn't include balconies or terraces. Is Toilet Included in Carpet Area? Yes, it does. Together with the bathroom and kitchen. You can think of the carpet area as it is the area inside your flat. Since the toilet is inside your flat, it is included in the carpet area (Same rule applies for the balcony as well. This time, since it is not inside your flat, it is not included in the carpet area). How Do You Calculate Carpet Area from Plinth Area? Plinth area (also known as the built-up area) consists of carpet area + wall thicknesses + areas of ducts like ventilation ducts. If you know the values of wall thicknesses and duct areas, you can simply calculate the carpet area by subtracting these values from the plinth area. Conclusion The carpet area of a flat is the net usable area where you can cover with carpets. If you want to measure the carpet area of your flat, you should measure the areas of each room in your flat first. To do this, for rectangular rooms you just need to multiply wall lengths and you will obtain the area. For other shapes, you should draw a sketch of your room onto a paper and try to divide the sketch into known geometrical figures like rectangles. After calculating the area for each room (including bathroom, kitchen, and toilet), sum all these values and you will get the carpet area of your flat.

Recent Posts