Carpet | Installation
Being knowledgeable and prepared for the big day when the new
carpeting will transform your home is very important. Being
ready for the installation of your carpet will make the entire
process go faster and more efficiently. Knowing what to expect
and being prepared will also be a lot less stressful on you,
your family and your home.
Use a professional - some of these basics follow:
Seams
- seaming diagram is the installers' "blueprint" for overall
layout, seam placement and transition
- professionals know how to deal with seams best
- seams are inevitable
- professionals excel at minimizing and hiding seams
- professionals insure seams are placed away from pivoting
traffic, and not perpendicular to doorway openings
- some styles show seam tape more than others, called
telegraphing or peaking
- peaking is seen more in low cut pile and looped carpets
- a tight seam can still be seen
- sometimes extra carpet is ordered to better match patterns
at the seams
Transitions
- when two different flooring products meet like carpet to
wood
- professional installers will try to match the surface
heights to minimize transitions.
What to know and do before installation day
Furniture is step one
- remove all furniture
- additional charges occur for moving furniture
- empty the contents of china cabinets, closets
Know what to do with your present floor
covering
- consider removal of old floor covering, sometimes messy and
time consuming
- if you remove it, do it at least one day before for cleanup
and floor preparation
- leave tack strips in place
- pull the staples out of the floor from the original pad
- painted baseboards, woodwork and paint may need retouching; this is your responsibility
Subflooring
- may need preparation for new carpet - leave this to the
pros
Doors
- doors may not clear the new carpet and swing freely
- a professional can remove doors and re-hang, if possible
- they will shave or cut down to insure clearance at an
additional cost
Clean-up
- installing new carpet will produce waste
- materials are usually collected by your installer and left
at your trash collection site
- hauling away is usually an additional cost
What to know and do during installation day
Installation day
Be prepared to be at home the day of installation and be
available in case the installation crew has questions. Your
presence will insure that the correct carpet is installed in
the right areas.
- some installers may not be able to give you an exact time
of arrival
- be flexible and keep in touch with your retailer/installer
Safety
- installers use tools and techniques that can make the work
area hazardous
- make sure that children and pets are kept out of the work
area
The walk-through
- prior to the completion of the installation, walk-through the
job with the chief installer
- this gives you the opportunity to ask questions about final
details
What to know and do after installation day
- for odor sensitivity, good ventilation is important
- some of the chemicals and adhesives in carpet can smell
for 48 to 72 hours
- be prepared to provide the room with adequate ventilation
Fixing post-installation problems
- shedding is a natural part of a new carpet
- frequent vacuuming for the first few days should help
- sprouting is the small tufts or loops that are visible
afterwards
- use small scissors to trim the loose fibers flush with the
carpet's surface
- for wrinkles or ripples, a re-stretch maybe needed