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I just finished cutting out my lids for my deck extension. Before I epoxy/resin the wood I need to know how much space to allow for carpet. Someone suggested 1/2 inch around each side. Is this too much. I'd like a tight fit but don't want to over do it. Thanks guys
If it were me, I would wrap the carpet around the bare wood before I epoxy it, for a test fit. Get it the way you like it, then epoxy away........
Use a lid opening that is surrounded on all 4 sides with decking. This is done with all carpet in that area removed. Take some carpet pieces from the actual carpet that you are going to use, and cut them 2" wide by 3" long, you'll need 24 of them. Now glue 2 sections together, back side to back side. You'll due this with all 24 pieces making 12-2" x 3" sections that are carpeted on both sides. I'll refer to these as CARPET WEDGES from this point on.
Hopefully, the deck opening has some sort of a lip going around it. Now put 1 section of the carpet wedges against the deck wall towards each corner of your opening. You'll have 2 carpet wedges per side, for a total of 8 carpet wedges. Now on one end wall and one side wall, double up your carpet wedges.
Measure the length and the width from single carpet wedge across to the doubled carpet wedges. You should take both measurements from each cross section. Cut a piece of plywood 1/8" smaller than the measurements. For squaring purpose, it is best to cut the plywood with a table saw or use a carpenter's square to mark the wood before you cut it.
Now place the plywood into the opening and adjust the carpet wedges so they stay between the deck and the lid edges. Trim down the plywood until it is a snug fit not a tight fit. Now measure the gap between the lid and the deck. If your are using 20 ounce carpet, this gap should be approximately 5/8".
The carpet wedges represent the thickness of the carpet for each side of the lid and each side of the deck side walls. The extra carpet wedge represents the fiberglass surface of your finished lid. The gap should be 1/2" all the way around once the lid is glassed and before the carpet is applied.
If the lid is surrounded by deck on only 3 sides, then you only need 20 pieces of carpet and make 10 carpet wedges. Place the carpet wedges on the side sections like previously explained and put double carpet wedges on the single deck wall side. Take your measurements, cut your plywood and test fit. The lid edge towards the non deck wall side, should be flush with the surface beneath the lid.
To measure the height of the lid wall, cut 3 strips of your carpet approximately 6" long and narrow enough to fit the lip that your lid will sit upon. Lay all 3 strips into you deck lip, one on top of another and place a straight edge from one side of the deck to the other. Measure the distance from the carpet to the bottom edge of the straight edge. This measurement will be the height of your unfinished lid lip minus the thickness of the lid top. Two pieces of carpet represents the carpet on the lid top surface and the section that wraps around the bottom of the lid side wall. The 3rd piece of carpet represents the fiberglass on the finished lid.
To carpet the lids, follow "JoePa's" directions for cutting the corners(pinned at the top of the restoration forum.) When I install carpet, I use only spray grade contact cement.
Make sure that after you constructed your lids and before you glass them, that you round all of your edges, as fiberglass matting will not bend around 90 degree edges.
I HOPE I HELPED!!!!!!!
Good luck with your project!
yes yes yes!!!!!
ORDER YOUR CARPET FIRST and order enough to make "spacers" or "wedges" and test fit everything!!!!
I made the mistake of not having my carpet....just samples. When I ordered it Cabelas screwed up the order and then could not get me a new order for 21 DAYS!!! I had a TX in 12 days...so I order from a sponsor here and got it in 3 days...but all they had was 2oz heavier weight carpet
How much difference can 2oz make?
GOOD LORD IT MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE!!!!!
TEST FIT! TEST FIT and then TEST FIT again...and when you are comfortable...check it one last time.
good deal...thanks guys