Indoor/Outdoor Carpet

[skamper75]

How can I keep my carpet, under awning mat, from coming apart on the seams?  I think I can melt the edges with a lighter, like nylon cord but my wife thinks it will become engulfed in flames.  Any tips? Thanks

[PattieAM]

I haven't had any ravel (sp) issues with my indoor/outdoor carpet.  I have seen tubes of some 'sealer' for carpet at Home Depot - don't know if that would work or not.  But, I would agree with your wife about the potential for flameup.

Maybe running a curling iron around the edges would melt the fibers to avoid fray.  But cleaning that curling iron would be an issue!

[wavery]

I would suggest trashing the indoor-outdoor carpet and getting a real awning mat:
http://cgi.ebay.com/FLORAL-RV-AWNING-PATIO-MATS-9-x-12-Deck-Camper-Mat-Rug_W0QQitemZ300206054151QQihZ020QQcategoryZ20588QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

They are so much easier to care for and stow.

They allow the sand and dirt to filter through. They can also be swept off or picked up and shook without hassle.

[dcampbell1969]

remember those woodburning kits from when we were kids?  that would be perfect.

[haroldPE]

only one way to truly find out. :eyecrazy: :cake:

...my wife thinks it will become engulfed in flames.  Any tips? Thanks

... and if it does go up in a blaze of glory, you then can go out and buy an awning mat like linked above..  :-()

[sacrawf]

To save the trouble and fire hazard, I would suggest replacing your indoor-outdoor carpet with one of the mats from http://www.rvawningmats.com/shopping/index.php.  I got one as a result of a referral from this site, and have been very pleased with the mat and the carry bag.  It dries quickly, is easily cleaned, and doesn't hold water and mud like an indoor-outdoor carpet.

[austinado16]

To save the trouble and fire hazard, I would suggest replacing your indoor-outdoor carpet with one of the mats from http://www.rvawningmats.com/shopping/index.php.  I got one as a result of a referral from this site, and have been very pleased with the mat and the carry bag.  It dries quickly, is easily cleaned, and doesn't hold water and mud like an indoor-outdoor carpet.

An awning mat is on my list of "must haves" for the coming season!  We've already deployed a smaller version...one of those woven plastic fold out mats that fold up like a map, and become the size of large purse.  It worked perfect.

[skamper75]

Thanks for the help. Im going to try a heat gun first.  We did use a lighter on a small bit and it worked, catch on fire and we step it out; just like melting a nylon rope.

[Dee4j]

I would suggest trashing the indoor-outdoor carpet and getting a real awning mat:
http://cgi.ebay.com/FLORAL-RV-AWNING-PATIO-MATS-9-x-12-Deck-Camper-Mat-Rug_W0QQitemZ300206054151QQihZ020QQcategoryZ20588QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

They are so much easier to care for and stow.

They allow the sand and dirt to filter through. They can also be swept off or picked up and shook without hassle.

we went to one of these too..you never really can get  the sand and dirt out of carpet..

after one rainy campout my mat was just Nasty gross dirty so I folded it up, put a trash bag over each end and when I got home I just hosed it off

[srds]

Friend of mine use heat gun,like the ones you use to remove wall paper ,and it worked great.

[wavery]

Friend of mine use heat gun,like the ones you use to remove wall paper ,and it worked great.

If you insist on doing it, use the right tools. You should use a "Hot-knife":

http://www.sailrite.com/Categories/Hotknives-Tips

If you have a Weller electric soldering gun, you can just replace the tip and make it into a hot-knife..

I have this hot-knife. It works great for cutting Sunbrella and all other plastics and acrylics:
http://www.sailrite.com/weller-soldering-iron;jsessionid=0a000d4a1f43b9347226ce9d4567b4f7bc8474666aba.e3eSc34RbhyRe34Pa38Ta38Qb3n0?sc=2&category=7324

You can draw a straight line down the edge and slowly go down the line with the hot-knife. As the hot knife come in contact with the material, it melts it only in a small area as it cuts. The plastic re-hardens nearly immediately. Lightly pull the waste edge away as you cut. That will keep it from sealing back to itself. It cuts and seals at the same time. Makes a nice clean job.

[skamper75]

I already had it cut. Used a heat gun tonight, melted all the loose ends tight. Hope it holds up, we'll see.  Thanks