Handling Carpet Rolls Requires the Right Forklift Attachments

Carpet rolls are one of the most awkward types of payloads to carry with a forklift. They are long, heavy, and prone to unraveling.

When a carpet roll starts to unravel, it can cause a huge mess in your dock or warehouse. It also can delay productivity for hours while the carpet roll is re-coiled and contained, not to mention damage to the carpeting.

Handling carpet rolls requires specialized equipment. A carpet pole forklift attachment will help drivers pick up and move even the heaviest and longest carpet rolls safely and efficiently.

But even before carpet rolls are lifted, they need to be sealed properly with the right materials.

Factory-Sealed Carpet Rolls

Typically, the carpet rolls most forklift operators are handling are already factory sealed using heavy duty polyurethane or thick plastic sheathing. These materials are applied to the carpet roll at the textile mill where it originally was produced and are designed to protect the material as it makes its way through the supply chain to the end user.

But carpet rolls that are not coming from the manufacturer can be a little more tricky. In some instances, the roll may have been already opened and a segment cut off, either because a portion of the roll already was used elsewhere or because it’s a carpet remnant.

In these case, it’s important that the carpet roll is secured thoroughly before trying to lift it with the carpet pole attachment on your forklift. If not, the carpet roll can unspool and you are going to have a huge mess to clean up.

Securing Carpet Rolls

The best thing to use to secure unwrapped carpet rolls is the original sheathing from the factory. If the roll is opened and cut, save the wrapper that it came in and reapply it if possible.

Sometimes, however, this plastic sheathing is cut open in order to access the carpet roll. If this is the case, you can wrap the carpet roll with heavy duty duct tape. Wrap the carpet with the duct tape several times around to secure the load. Make sure you wrap it in at least three places for added strength and security.

Duct tape won’t damage the underside of the carpet but you don’t want to put it on the show side because the adhesive may stick to the carpeting. If this happens, use Goo Gone or another adhesive remover to clean the carpeting. Or just don’t put duct tape on carpeting to begin with.

Moving carpet rolls can be challenging. But with the right tools and the right equipment, it can be smooth sailing.