Comments on: Reusing old carpet http://www.low-impact.net/index.php/20090103/reusing-old-carpet/ Hints, tips and discussions on reducing your impact on the environment. Thu, 29 Jul 2010 09:35:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: JP http://www.low-impact.net/index.php/20090103/reusing-old-carpet/comment-page-1/#comment-2236 JP Wed, 28 Apr 2010 05:41:12 +0000 http://www.low-impact.net/?p=291#comment-2236 I've done a couple paintings with large carpet like rugs that I found in the dumpsters during moveout time at the college. I used old cans of latex paint to prime it. I used the back, but I think you could use either side. It's kinda heavy, so I laid it on the floor to prime it. I just poured on the paint and spread it out with a flat instrument. I took two by fours and put them on each side along the top, and pounded nais through. This enabled me to hang the canvas easier for painting and on the wall after completion. I hung it from two screws into wall studs, with chain connecting. Its a huge pop art image on about a 10x7 ft size carpet/rug. Every time I moved to a new apartment, I rolled it up. And I should mention, I sealed the painting with a coat of a product called Peal-Stop? that's designed to keep paint from cracking and flaking off. I roll the painting around the 2x4's I used to frame it, and try to keep the roll large prevent cracking the paint. It's heavy but has other benefits. If you stretch thin canvas and it gets pushed in, you don't have to re-stretch. No stretching involved. Other possible ideas? 1. Use it to pour concrete pillars or tubes. Carpet is pretty strong if you layer it. Like rolled up newspaper and prison shanks. 2. Use it to cover a geodesic dome structure and then use portland cement over top. Next, sprayfoam insulate the inside. Then build a second dome stucture on the inside of that, with about three foot of space in between the shells. That could act as a service corridor to do all the plumbing and electrical. Use flooring strips to make the triangle panels for the inside walls and floor. On second thought, the cement would sweat and the carpet would rot. I’ve done a couple paintings with large carpet like rugs that I found in the dumpsters during moveout time at the college. I used old cans of latex paint to prime it. I used the back, but I think you could use either side. It’s kinda heavy, so I laid it on the floor to prime it. I just poured on the paint and spread it out with a flat instrument. I took two by fours and put them on each side along the top, and pounded nais through. This enabled me to hang the canvas easier for painting and on the wall after completion. I hung it from two screws into wall studs, with chain connecting. Its a huge pop art image on about a 10×7 ft size carpet/rug. Every time I moved to a new apartment, I rolled it up. And I should mention, I sealed the painting with a coat of a product called Peal-Stop? that’s designed to keep paint from cracking and flaking off. I roll the painting around the 2×4’s I used to frame it, and try to keep the roll large prevent cracking the paint. It’s heavy but has other benefits. If you stretch thin canvas and it gets pushed in, you don’t have to re-stretch. No stretching involved.

Other possible ideas? 1. Use it to pour concrete pillars or tubes. Carpet is pretty strong if you layer it. Like rolled up newspaper and prison shanks.
2. Use it to cover a geodesic dome structure and then use portland cement over top. Next, sprayfoam insulate the inside. Then build a second dome stucture on the inside of that, with about three foot of space in between the shells. That could act as a service corridor to do all the plumbing and electrical. Use flooring strips to make the triangle panels for the inside walls and floor. On second thought, the cement would sweat and the carpet would rot.

]]> By: Brian Parker http://www.low-impact.net/index.php/20090103/reusing-old-carpet/comment-page-1/#comment-2128 Brian Parker Mon, 06 Apr 2009 21:15:11 +0000 http://www.low-impact.net/?p=291#comment-2128 Freecycle is a great place to find people who want your old stuff. Also community shelters and places like Goodwill and Salvation Army will take things like this, and usually give you a tax credit. Freecycle is a great place to find people who want your old stuff. Also community shelters and places like Goodwill and Salvation Army will take things like this, and usually give you a tax credit.

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