Do you have a bunch of offcuts left over from when your new carpets were laid? Don’t let them go to waste. You can have them overlocked to produce something usable.

Read on for more information about carpet overlocking services including:

• What is carpet overlocking?
• What can you use carpet overlocking for?
• How much does it cost to have a carpet overlocked?
• How do I find a carpet overlocking service?
• Getting quotes for carpet overlocking services

What is carpet overlocking?

When you get carpet laid in your home, it usually comes in standard sizes that your carpet layer will cut to fit your home's unique specifications. The offcuts can come in all shapes and sizes but they all lack edging and are prone to fraying, making them undesirable as decoration. 

Using a machine called an ‘overlocker’ allows carpet edges to be sewn with a border that prevents fraying. Essentially, an overlocker can be used to turn a piece of carpet cut off and turn it into a rug or other floor covering. 

What you can use carpet overlocking for

If you’ve got some lengths of carpet stored away after an installation or just in case, you can get in contact with a carpet overlocking service and turn them into usable products. 

One of the main uses of overlocked carpets is to protect the flooring underneath from wearing out prematurely. For example, you can have your carpet offcuts made into mats for areas where foot traffic is heaviest. Another option is to lay an area of carpet made from remnants onto a hardwood floor, as not only does it look great, but it will also prevent wear on your precious timber in high-traffic areas. 

Overlocking services do more than just make offcuts usable. They also:

• Often have a large selection of carpet remnants in stock for customers to choose from
• Overlock hallway runners for areas where wall-to-wall carpeting isn't wanted
• Add non-skid and/or protective backing to carpets
• Can join two pieces of carpet together

The edges of carpets with overlocking can be either square or rounded. Services recommend rounded edges because they do not curl up. An exception is with hallway runners on patterned carpets when rounded corners would spoil the pattern.

How much does it cost to have a carpet overlocked?

The cost of having carpet cutoffs turned into something usable is usually measured by the metre. Carpet overlocking services can either just overlock the edges or they can also cut the piece to size if you need a more specific shape. 

For overlocking without cutting services, you can expect to pay somewhere in the region of $5 - $14 per linear metre of carpet you wish to have overlocked. This is counted as the entire perimeter of the carpet being overlocked rather than just the height or the width. 

If your job requires the carpet cut-offs to be cut to size and then overlocked, you’ll generally be charged more for the service. For this, you can expect to pay anywhere between $9-18. 

These price ranges are usually for carpet overlocking of standard shapes like squares and rectangles. If you want a custom shape for your new rug, mat or runner, then you may find that the cost increases too. Generally, you can pay up to $60 for non-standard or extra-large overlocking. 

For non-slip backing, expect to pay in the region of $25 - $40 extra on top of overlocking costs, depending on the quality and the surface that the carpet needs to lock to. 

Any carpet that needs joining can cost as much as $65 per metre. Usually, you will only need to join on one side so it can come out to a reasonable amount. 

How do I find a carpet overlocking service?

There are three ways to find a carpet overlocking service:

1. Carpet suppliers usually either provide the service or can recommend one to you

2. Carpet layers and repairers often offer overlocking as an extra service
3. You can get up to three quotes from carpet overlockers near you using our free Get Quotes service

When you call a carpet overlocking service it can be a good idea to ask them some questions to make sure that you get the right service for your needs. Some of these questions include:

• How long will the job take? (often, overlocking takes around one to five days) 
• Do you have experience with the job?
• Can you provide a written quote?
• Do you have references I can follow up on?

Getting quotes for carpet overlocking services near me

At hipages, we always recommend getting at least three quotes before hiring a tradie. The cheapest option may not always be the best one and you may find that there are additional costs down the line that can add up. 

Don’t be afraid to ask questions about anything you’re unsure about. You can always ask about the quotes and get an itemised list of what you are paying for. One way to do this is to request a written quote. This will make it easier to compare the quotes you receive and choose the right service for you.