Welcome to “Carpet Installation for Smart People”

If you’re looking for reliable information on carpet installation, you’ve come to the smart place.

First, you should know that carpet installation is a skill developed through years of experience.

Understanding the basics of carpet installation will increase your knowledge of the process, and enhance your confidence in the professionals working in your home.

The installers begin with the seaming diagram.

This shows the overall layout of the carpet, the correct placement of seams and transitions, and assists them in the preparation and cutting of the carpet.

While seams are inevitable, it’s the professionals who excel at minimizing and hiding seams.

Case in point: they’ll insure seams are placed away from areas subjected to pivoting traffic, and won’t run seams perpendicular to doorway openings.

Some carpet styles, such as loop & pattern, show the placement of the seams more than others.

This is called telegraphing, or peaking, and it’s particularly noticeable in low-cut pile, and looped carpets.

A seam may be excellent and considered ‘tight’ even though it can still be seen.

Occasionally, additional carpet must be ordered to better match patterns at the seams which will add to the cost.

When two different flooring products meet – say, carpeting and a hardwood floor – it’s called a transition.

The installers will try to match the surface heights of various flooring products to minimize transitions.

Now, a few words on your responsibilities – the things you should do before installation day, during and after.

Before installation day, remove all furniture and other objects from the areas to be carpeted.

If you are interested in us moving your furniture please inquire about our policies and the additional costs.

Also, please consider how your old floor covering will be taken up and disposed of. We will be happy to discuss the best method of disposal for you and any associated costs.

If you prefer to remove your present floor covering yourself, do it at least one day prior to installation, to allow for cleanup and floor preparation.

If removing old carpet, leave the tack strips in place and pull the staples out of the floor from the original pad.

Your existing subfloor may need to be prepared to receive the carpet, or a new subfloor may be required.

If subfloor work is necessary, it should be done by qualified professionals and we can assist you.

Moldings and baseboards may need to be removed and or replaced for carpet installation. Again, we will be happy to discuss these services with you and the associated costs. We will not be not be responsible for damage though due to dry or brittle wood.

Painted baseboards, woodwork and paint will most likely require retouching after the installation is complete. This is your responsibility.

When carpeting is installed, some doors may not clear the new carpet and swing free.

We will remove doors in order to install the carpet, and may re-hang them if possible at an additional charge. Doors may need to be shaved or cut down to insure clearance. Please ask us about these specific services or arrange for a qualified carpenter to provide this service. We will discuss these details with you prior to installation.

Be sure you know the clean up plan including how materials will be disposed of, if there are added costs to do so, and the plan for carpet remnants.

On installation day, be at home and available. Because it is difficult to estimate the length of each job, some installers may not give you an exact time of arrival.

The safety of you and your family is of utmost importance. Please keep children and pets out of the work area on installation day.

Prior to the completion of work, you should walk thru the job with the installer, so you’re clear on final details.

After the installers have left, good ventilation should be established for as long as 72 hours.

Frequent vacuuming for the first few days should remove any loose fibers from the carpet.

Sprouting refers to small tufts or loops of carpet that become visible after the installation. This is not a defect of the carpet or installation.

Use a small pair of scissors to carefully trim the loose fibers flush with the surface of the carpet.

Finally, if wrinkles or ripples appear, it may be necessary to re-stretch the carpet.

Contact us to have this done professionally.

When it comes to your carpet installation, we want you to be as smart and well prepared as possible.

It will make installation day easier on you and your family, and provide your home with beautiful, professionally installed carpet for years to come.