Carpet - Before Installation

What to know and do before your carpet is installed.

You’ve learned all there is to know about carpet, shopped smart, made your best choice, and now it’s just a matter of waiting for the installers, right?

You know better, of course. The next step is to be knowledgeable and prepared for the big day when the new carpeting will transform your home.

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.

Our best advice is to go with the pros.

Carpet installation is a skill that is developed through years of experience, so using professional installers is just plain smart. Also, understanding the basics of carpet installation will increase your knowledge of the process and enhance your confidence in the professionals working in your home. Some of these basics follow.

The seaming diagram is the installers’ “blueprint”.

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.

Nobody knows how to deal with seams better than the professionals.

While seams are inevitable, it’s the professionals who excel at minimizing and hiding seams. They call on years of experience and tried and true methods. Case in point: they’ll insure seams are placed away from areas subjected to pivoting traffic, and not run seams perpendicular to doorway openings.

Some carpet styles can show the placement of the seam tape more than others. This is referred to as telegraphing, or peaking, and it is particularly noticeable in low cut pile and looped carpets. A seam may be excellent and considered ‘tight’ but can still be seen.

You should keep in mind that, occasionally, additional carpet must be ordered to better match patterns at the seams, which will add to the cost.

The pros know what to do about transitions. When two different flooring products meet – say, carpeting and a hardwood floor – it’s called a transition. Your professional installers will try to match the surface heights of various flooring products to minimize transitions.

What to know and do before installation day

Furniture is step one. Remove all furniture and other objects and materials from the areas to be carpeted. Some installers will move your furniture, but there may be an additional charge for doing so.

Before moving, you’ll also need to empty the contents of china cabinets, closets and the like.

Know what to do with your present floor covering.

Please consider how your old floor covering will be taken up and disposed of. This can be a time consuming and messy task. We would be happy to discuss removal options with you.

If you prefer to remove your present floor covering, do it at least one day prior to installation to allow for cleanup and floor preparation. If removing old carpet, please leave tack strips in place and pull the staples out of the floor from the original pad.

Consider your options regarding the trim.

You should know that, in many cases, moldings and baseboards need to be removed for carpet installation. Your installer may do this but at an additional charge and they will probably not be responsible for damage or beakage due to dry or brittle wood.

Painted baseboards, woodwork and paint may need retouching after the installation is complete. If necessary, this is your responsibility.

Seek advice on your subflooring.

Your existing subfloor may need to be prepared to receive the carpet, or a new subfloor may be required. This is a job best left to the professionals and, again, we can help you with these decisions.

Be prepared with a door plan.

When carpeting is installed, there’s always the possibility that the doors, especially closet doors, basement and bedroom doors, may not clear the new carpet and swing free. Another thing to keep in mind is how the color of carpet affects the apparent size of the room. Lighter colored carpet will visually expand the size of the room. Darker carpeting will seem to bring the walls closer together, and create a more intimate feeling.

Some installers will remove doors in order to install the carpet and re-hang them if possible. They probably won’t shave or cut down doors to insure clearance. You may need to arrange for a qualified carpenter to provide this service after the installation of your new carpet.

Be clear about the clean-up.

Installing new carpet will produce waste.

Usually these materials are collected by your installer and left at your trash collection site. Check with your retailer before the day of installation so you’re clear about the clean up, if there are added costs to do so, and ask about the plan for carpet remnants.

What to know and do during installation day

Installation day requires your presence.

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. Because it is difficult to estimate the length and circumstances of each job, some installers may not be able to give you an exact time of arrival. We suggest you be flexible and keep in touch with your retailer/installer.

Keep your family safe.

Your installers will use a variety of tools and techniques that can make the work area hazardous. Please make sure that your children and pets are kept out of the work area on installation day.

Don’t forget the walk-thru.

We recommend that, prior to the completion of the installation, you walk thru the job with the chief installer. This will give you the opportunity to ask questions and be clear on any final details.

What to know and do after installation day

Be ready to clear the air.

If you are sensitive to odors, good ventilation should be established. Some of the chemicals used in the construction of carpet, as well as the adhesives or hot melt seaming tapes, can have an odor for as long as 48 to 72 hours after installation. So 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 remove any loose fibers from the carpet’s surface.

Sprouting refers to small tufts or loops of carpet that become visible after the 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 in the carpet, it may be necessary to re-stretch the carpet. Please contact us to have this done professionally.

Preparation is the key.

We want you to be as knowledgeable and well prepared as possible for the installation of your new carpet. It will make that day easier on you and your home and provide you with an enjoyable floor covering experience for years to come.