Can't Stand Carpet Grippers

[chiefyb]

DIY has given me an aversion to carpet grippers but after ripping up the last lot, cursing all the way, I've decided I do need a fitted carpet again after all. If I could get one laid without more grippers everywhere, I'd be a bit happier. I suppose in the old days a two-inch nail here and there did the trick. Any advice, anyone?

[Dodger666]

Gripper rod used to give my hands grief when sanding the skirting boards prior to painting. Then I got a piece of tin plate about 600mm long and turned one long edge over about 10mm. I now lie this over the nails on the gripper and no more gashed fingers. Not sure how nails would do the job as the carpet is stretched onto the gripper rod. No gripper rod could result in the carpet not keeping flat, specially when using a vacuum cleaner.

[alavahalf]

2" nails sound a great idea ... your next question will be .. "when you have hammered a nail through a pipe, should you pull it out or wait for the plumber".

[bookbinder]

Carpet fitters used (in the 1960s) to use a system called 'rings and pins', which was better (for the householder) than the present gripper rods. You only needed to lift the rings off the pins and you could roll the carpet back, out of the way of your paint brush.

[maggiebee]

Think carpet grippers are still the best option if you have a good carpet and underlay. I have them in my living room, while in two of my bedrooms the carpets are "stapled" down. Not such a tidy finish.

[chiefyb]

Thanks all. I like Dodger's tip for dealing with the evil stuff when painting. Looking into rods and pins. For the stairs, stair rods and brackets would cost from about £16 a stair, looks like. Will let you know ...