Ordering and installing your own carpet is laden with things that can go wrong
“I would like to say that I’ve only seen it happen once,” says Lorna Dobbling, a design consultant at Carpetland Carpet One in Milford, OH.
“But the reality is that many homeowners who are trying to save money become overly confident about their home remodeling skills, and it ends up costing them, big-time.”
The possible mistakes are many. And they result from inexperience and oversight.
Not stretching the carpet properly during installation can result in premature wrinkling or pattern runoff. Another potential problem is seaming at too high of a heat setting, which can result in permanent damage to the fibers. Too low of a setting may mean the seam will come apart.
Measure twice, buy once?
One of the biggest mistakes can occur long before installation begins. Carpet, Dobbling says, is the most difficult of flooring products to measure for because it all has to lay in the same direction. In addition, a 12-foot-wide carpet might actually be 11-feet, 10-inches when it arrives.
Also affecting proper measurement is whether the carpet has a pattern. If it does, additional waste will result from matching the carpet pieces side-by-side.
Unfortunately, Dobbling says she has seen many a DIY homeowner order carpet based only on room dimensions. Then, she has received the desperate calls for help.
“Their order is short, so a re-order has to be done, often at a premium price,” she says. “And there are other problems. We might not be able to get the same dye lot so the color isn’t a perfect match and won’t look right when we piece it.”
The solution?
“Let a reputable carpet retailer take responsibility for correct measurement, product and installation so you don’t end up starting over and paying twice.” ©
This blog post is part of Carpetland Carpet One’s Don’t Do It Yourself sale running through April 19. Contact the store nearest you for details.
