Carpet Gripper Fitting in Exeter
Professional carpet gripper fitting services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£5-8/m
Typical Duration
Varies
Location
Exeter, Devon
Carpet gripper installation for living rooms, bedrooms, stairs. Secure fixing, correct spacing, professional prep for carpet laying.
The Foundation Every Fitted Carpet Needs
Carpet gripper might look like basic stuff - strips of wood with angled pins - but if it's not fitted right, your carpet won't stay tight and you'll have wrinkles and loose edges within weeks. Gripper needs to be fixed solid, spaced correctly from the wall, and the pins facing the right direction so carpet fitters can stretch and tuck the carpet properly.
💡 Pro tip: Don't reuse old gripper. The pins get blunt and the wood gets brittle. Fresh gripper costs bugger all and it's the difference between carpet that stays tight for years and carpet that looks tired after six months.
Done Right vs Done Wrong
| ✅ Done Right | ❌ Done Wrong |
|---|---|
| Gripper fixed solid, doesn't move | Loose gripper that shifts when carpet is stretched |
| Correct spacing from wall (10-15mm) | Too close or too far - carpet doesn't tuck properly |
| Pins angled towards the wall | Pins facing the wrong way - carpet won't grip |
| Continuous strips around perimeter | Gaps in gripper where carpet will come loose |
What You Get
🔧 The Full Service
| Stage | What Happens |
|---|---|
| 1. Remove Old Gripper | If there's old gripper down, I'll pull it up and dispose of it |
| 2. Check Subfloor | Make sure the floor is solid and level where gripper will be fixed |
| 3. Cut & Position | Cut gripper to length, position around perimeter with correct spacing |
| 4. Fix in Place | Nail to wooden floors or use masonry fixings/adhesive for concrete |
📦 You're Left With
- Carpet gripper fitted around entire room
- Correctly spaced from walls
- Pins angled towards walls for proper grip
- Ready for underlay and carpet fitting
Pricing Guide
| Scope | Estimated Time | You'll Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Small bedroom (12m perimeter) | 1 hr | £60 + £60-96 gripper |
| Living room (18m perimeter) | 1.5 hrs | £85 + £90-144 gripper |
| Large room (24m perimeter) | 2 hrs | £110 + £120-192 gripper |
£60 minimum (first hour) + £50/hr after. Gripper priced separately at £5-8 per metre depending on type.
Perfect For Your Project If...
✅ You're having new carpet fitted and need gripper down first - Most carpet fitters will do it, but you can save money by having it fitted beforehand
✅ You've pulled up old carpet and the gripper is knackered - Blunt pins, broken strips, or nailed down badly
✅ You're DIYing carpet installation - But you want the gripper fitted right so the carpet sits properly
✅ You need stairs re-gripped before new stair carpet goes down - Stair gripper takes more care because of the angles
Why Choose Us for Carpet Gripper Fitting in Exeter?
Securely fixed to subfloor
Correct spacing from walls
Angled pins facing the right way
Ready for carpet fitters to work with
What to Expect
Step 1: Remove Old Gripper
If there's existing gripper, I'll pull it up. Watch out for the pins - they're sharp buggers and they'll go straight through a bin bag if you're not careful.
Step 2: Measure & Cut
I'll measure the room perimeter and cut gripper strips to length. For corners, I'll mitre or butt-join them neatly.
Step 3: Fix in Place
Gripper gets nailed or fixed around the perimeter, leaving the correct gap from the wall. Pins face towards the wall, ready for the carpet to be stretched over them.
Step 4: Tidy Up
Once it's all down, I'll clear away old gripper and any debris. Floor is ready for underlay and carpet.
🔧 DIY Tips
Fitting carpet gripper is straightforward if you've got the right tools and know the spacing:
🔧 What you'll need
- Carpet gripper strips
- Hammer (for wooden floors)
- Masonry nails or gripper adhesive (for concrete)
- Tape measure
- Handsaw or gripper cutter
- Knee pads (you'll be kneeling a lot)
📐 How to do it
- Measure room perimeter and work out how much gripper you need
- Position gripper around the edges, leaving 10-15mm gap from the wall (two-thirds your carpet thickness)
- Make sure pins are angled towards the wall, not into the room
- Nail gripper down every 20-30cm on wooden floors; use masonry nails or adhesive on concrete
- Cut gripper cleanly at doorways and corners - no gaps
⚠️ Common mistakes
- Positioning gripper too close or too far from walls - carpet won't fit properly
- Fitting pins facing the wrong way - carpet fitters will love you for that one
- Not fixing gripper securely - it'll shift when carpet is stretched
- Leaving gaps in gripper where corners meet - carpet will come loose there
💡 Pro trick: Use a piece of wood the right thickness (10-15mm) as a spacer when positioning gripper. Run it along the wall and position gripper against it - you'll get consistent spacing all the way round.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
🔧 Doorways need transition strips: Gripper stops at doorways - you don't run it across thresholds. You'll need door bars or threshold strips to finish the edge where carpet meets other flooring.
Combine with:
- Carpet fitting
- Underlay installation
- Floor levelling (if subfloor is uneven)
Related services:
- Carpet removal
- Floor preparation
- Skirting board repairs
Frequently Asked Questions
How close to the wall should carpet gripper be?
About two-thirds the thickness of your carpet, which is usually 10-15mm. Too close and the carpet won't tuck properly; too far and you'll have a gap. If you're fitting gripper for a carpet fitter, they'll usually spec the exact distance based on the carpet thickness.
Can carpet gripper go on any floor type?
Concrete and wooden subfloors are fine - I'll nail gripper to wood or use masonry nails/adhesive for concrete. Tiled floors are tricky because gripper needs solid fixing and tiles can crack. If you've got tiles and want carpet over them, we need to talk about the best approach first.
Do the pins have to face a certain way?
Yeah, the angled pins face towards the wall. That way, when carpet is stretched and tucked down, the pins grip it and hold tension. If you fit gripper with pins facing the wrong way, the carpet won't stay tight and it'll look baggy.
How long does fitting carpet gripper take?
A typical room - living room or bedroom - takes about an hour once I'm set up. Larger rooms or awkward shapes take longer. If the floor needs prep work (like removing old gripper or levelling), that adds time.
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