best/cheapest way to cover a carpet in a rat room?

[Petunia]

I've been using a bedroom for the rat room. It's carpeted and for most of the time that the rats have used it, I've kept the carpet covered with various things from tarps to shower curtains to large old flat sheets

I just got a super cheap room sized rug (8 by 10- but this room is bigger so it only covers the middle of the room)
Only thing is, it needs to out gas first and even then, I'm not sure if it's going to work out in the rat room because they've taken a liking to pulling up the fibers in the carpet. They may think this is something new and tasty :roll:

I rent, so I can't just pull up the carpet, as much as I'd like to. There's sub flooring that would need some sort of flooring put down and most non-carpet options are very expensive.
If I planned to stay here, I might try to look into that, but I want to move in a year or so, as soon as I can save up enough.

The large flat sheets option has been ok except that I have an enormous amount of laundry to do and my washer is over 20yrs old. Trying not to run that into the ground because I can't afford to replace it


so......


does any one have some cheap carpet covering ideas?

 

[SQ]

I have always used linolum flooring and found it works well.
I use the thicker linolum so the cage doesn't eventually poke holes through it.
I have used large pieces of linolum, overlaped their edges and sealed the seams with duct tape.
The use of one large piece of linolum which covered the entire floor would be even better but I found it less expensive to buy large left over pieces.
I let the linolum go up the walls a couple of inches to protect the carpet from any moisture. This works fine as I line the walls in front of this raised 2 inch border, with cloroplast to prevent creative ratties from construction projects .... such as the creation of extra doorways.

I have done this in several apartments and where I am presently renting as well.
It has always worked and when I have moved (with the linolum), there has been no damange to the apartment.

Cadillac and Julia

Cadillac

 

[Petunia]

where do you get large pcs of linoleum like that? I didn't even know you could get it any more, I thought all flooring was um, that other stuff now, laminate, I think it's called?

 

[SQ]

Hardware stores that selling flooring and also lay it.

I usually buy it at Kents .... but I don't know what stores you have in the US.
Maybe you could phone around to hardware/flooring stores and ask

 

[Petunia]

can you get it shipped to you or do you have to pick it up?
I dont' have any way to get stuff like this home (no car, don't drive)


ETA: googling flooring and havent found anyone selling linoleum, yet, is sheet vinyl similar?
if vinyl is cheaper, there's there's no way I could afford linoleum, Lowes' has sheet vinyl for over $30 per foot (length, it's 13feet wide)

grrrr, maybe i better stick with flat bed sheets lol

 

[SQ]

I think you would need to ask the store.
I go to the store, decide what I want, and purchase it.
I imagine you could likely have it delivered or take it home in a cab company van (how ratsforever transported the R695 she once bought from me as it wouldn't find into the car when assembled).