Importance of Proper Carpet Installation
Proper carpet installation or should I say the absence of proper carpet installation? This has been a problem in the carpet industry for many years. Today, some carpet installers are paid little than carpet installers were paid when I ran a floor covering workroom more than 30 years ago. To keep the price of installation down, many retailers and big box stores have used less expensive and less qualified carpet installers. They think that this is the only way to compete in the retail floor covering business, but they are wrong!!!
I do not want to paint the industry with a broad brush. There are many carpet retailers that sell quality. These floor covering dealers have decided that they will only offer quality products and proper carpet installation. Perhaps they will experience a few less sales. The facts are, many of these dealers have actually increased their sales by selling quality. Others have found that even with less sales their bottom line has increased because they are selling better carpet and providing better service. Quality has resulted in fewer complaints. Better service and fewer complaints translates into more repeat customers, more referrals and reduced advertising cost.
Proper carpet installation is like engaging any construction trade. You have quality workers and others that should be doing a different job. You have expert carpet installers that are going to perform a proper carpet installation regardless of what it takes. You also have installers that would be better at sorting rags than installing carpet. These installers are more interested in getting the job done quickly regardless of the shortcuts. If you the consumer don’t care about the quality and are only looking for the cheapest price, can you really expect better?
It is no secret that on an industry wide basis improper carpet installation and installation error are a leading cause of complaint. Most carpet mills make a statement such as this in their warranty, “We are not responsible for damage caused by improper installation.”
Having spent over 50 years in the floor covering industry, I have continued to see instances where people purchase carpet from a supplier that does not offer installation. These suppliers will only furnish you with a list of installers. You contact, negotiate with, and pay the carpet installation company directly. Therefore it becomes incumbent upon you the consumer to check out the references of the installers you hire. Failing to do so could prove to be a costly mistake.
For more than two decades there have been Certified Carpet organizations and Certified Installers. The members of the International Certified Floorcovering Installers Association (CFI), and members of the Flooring Contractors Association (FCICA), have worked towards a singular goal. The goal of improving the carpet and flooring installation industry for both the consumer and the industry. These carpet installers understand the importance of proper carpet installation. Carpet installers such as certified individuals not only understand proper carpet installation, they strive to become even better at their trade. Certified installers take continuing education courses to stay abreast of the latest products and the latest techniques the carpet industry has to offer. Many of these certified installers also give freely of their own time to teach other installers and dealers about proper carpet installation.
There are also excellent carpet installers performing proper carpet installation that are not certified. Perhaps they have not learned about certification or have chosen not to become certified though they still perform quality work. This group of installers you will need to locate on your own.
Article by Terry Weinheimer of The Weinheimer Group, nationally recognized floorcovering inspectors.. Terry has been in the floor covering industry for over 50 years and is co-author of Carpet Inspectors Handbook.
Installing your own carpet can be frustrating! The list of step by step instructions you described definitely make it easier to see what you have to do and how you can accomplish it. I had no idea there were so many steps to correctly installing carpet. There is a lot that you need to do prior to even laying the carpet as you mentioned, preparing the room, installing the track pad, and adding a carpet pad. Thank you for laying out a clear description of carpet installation!
Annie, you are correct. Your comment gives me an opportunity to stand on my soap box. Carpet installation is a trade that one must learn over an extended period of time. Good carpet installers should be given much more respect than they are. Unfortunately the wages of carpet installers has been stagnant for too many years and because of that many of them find it necessary to take short cuts just to get the job done. A Carpet Inspector like me comes upon their short cut and they often end up eating the job. So industry, lets give these men and women that install our carpets the correct way some respect and pay them what they are worth. Consumer, it is time for you to learn what my dad taught me when I was a young boy working in his carpet workroom, “Price is soon forgotten but quality still remains!”
Terry
Proper installation of carpet is extremely important. Otherwise the overall look of your flooring will get ruined. I have experienced it. I had to get all the carpet removed and reinstalled. Make sure you hire experienced people for this work.
Hi from Linda
We changed the wall to wall carpet on the second floor 1 month after we moved in the home I love the carpet but I hear every step on the first floor , seems something wasn’t install right, haw can I fix that problem
If you are hearing foot steps it is more likely to be the floor of the house a very low density cushion and/or carpet. By you comments alone we are unable to make a recommendation.