DIY Office Chair Mat & Caster Replacement

When I started working from home, I bought a nice desk and office chair.  The wheels/casters made deep divots into the carpet. (see photo).  My first solution was to buy a cheap floor mat from Office Max.  What I didn't know was that not all chair mats are worth buying and it cracked apart within days.

So I then invested in a more expensive mat hoping it wouldn't crack up.  It didn't crack.  However, the wheels continue to make fairly deep impressions into the mat - not as bad as the carpet, but bad enough that it was a nuisance and I felt that I had to drag the chair out of the impressions just to move it.

Next, I invested in oversized casters, which made a big difference - until I rolled off the mat onto the carpet.  Then I was back to square one.

I figured I need to come up with a better solution.  I spent some time googling and found a few people saying they'd used furniture movers/sliders, but I couldn't find a step-by-step so I had to make up a few steps, but it worked out.

I hope it works for you.

Step 1 Create a Firm Foundation

The first challenge was to find a suitable foundation.  After searching craft stores, online, and considering making my own supports, I finally found the perfect solution: bun feet.  These are designed to be used as the feet under a couch or love seat.

They're perfect because they're round, solid and have a pre-drilled hole that comes in quite handy.  The only challenge is that pre-drilled hole is filled with a lag screw that needs to be removed for our purposes.  I found that channel lock pliers give the right leverage, but I'm sure vise grips would work equally well.

Simply unscrew and discard the lag screws.

Once I removed the lag screws, I replaced them with T-bolts, which I found in the specialty hardware section at Lowe's, and that fit perfect into the pre-drilled hole.

Comments

[modernstyler]

It would be great if you can show the before and after photo of the casters. I wonder where did you get your office chair parts? I would want to source some of my supplies there too.

[thmill]

I bought everything I used either at Lowes or Home Depot.

[MikeDre]

awesome DIY! where did you purchase the "buns"?

[thmill]

I happened across them at Lowes. I've seen them at Home Depot as well. All of these big box stores seem to have a section of stuff to fix your couch.

[castorsandwheels]

I would really like your post ,it would really explain each and every point clearly well thanks for sharing.

[copperaxe]

Bravo. I'll have to do this as well. I can't bring myself to buy a plastic mat that makes that rumble-strip on the highway noise. My carpet thanks you.

[mr.incredible]

Awesome! I have the same carpet! Must try.