What Is a Carpet Roller?

Roller Uses

• Carpet rollers are specifically used to join two sections of carpet together so that the carpet's fibers blend together along the resulting seam. Carpeting is often held down on surfaces and especially along seams by some sort of adhesive, and rollers help push carpeting down onto that adhesive. By using the right size carpet roller, a carpet installer can lay down carpet sections without altering their correct positions, thereby improving the look of their seams.

Widths and Types

• Carpet rollers come in different widths and types. Common carpet roller widths include 3- inch and 6-inch sizes. The rollers on carpet rollers also come smooth or in what are called "starred" patterns. Smooth-roller carpet rollers are ideal for forcing hot melted adhesive into a carpet's backing. The rollers on a smooth-roller carpet roller resemble baking rolling pins. Starred carpet rollers typically feature a dozen or more tiny multi-pointed stars aligned on an axle to help blend some carpet types more thoroughly.

Roller Handles

• Standard carpet rollers all have single handles. Carpet roller handles are used to apply downward force onto carpet seams, for one. Also, the handle on a carpet roller is used to more precisely guide the carpet roller where it needs to go and to prevent the carpet's seam from being misaligned. Some carpet rollers feature handles that run the length of their roller bodies. Full-body handle carpet rollers allow a carpet installer to put all her weight directly over a carpet's seam.

Considerations

• Different naps or types of carpeting need specific kinds of carpet rollers when they're being installed. For example, smooth-roller carpet rollers are used on plush or cut pile carpeting. Carpet installers usually use starred carpet rollers for short nap or velvet-type carpets. It's important to use the right kind of carpet roller on a carpet's nap in order not to damage its yarn.