I went for a job site inspection and estimate to remove the existing carpet and install a new carpet that’s already being purchased by my client and sits at their warehouse. The main complaint is that the existing high quality, 100% commercial grade luxuries wool carpet with pattern designs (one of the most expensive carpets in the market) is worn out within 5-6 years of use. Unfortunately I do end up almost on 90% on my job site inspection with mistakes or areas where the installer or the salesman did cut some corners with wrong suggestions. I personally believe that a flooring salesman should have definitely spend at least 5 years as an installer in order to make the right suggestions and to see the next steps for the installation process.

Today’s inspection was one of them… First thing that I have noticed is that the carpet was installed with an expensive felt underpad. It wasn’t the code that requires to have underpad so I asked why this method was used. The salesman initially suggested using underpad to protect the carpet and to add some comfort. Yes, the main reason why underpad is being used is to protect the backing of the carpet against rubbing the surface which will damage the backing and will cause the fibre to loose, eventually premature damages, worn and tears will happen. But this installation method is not designed for high traffic areas and for commercial grade carpets. The proper method is to glue down the commercial grade carpet directly to the surface by avoiding the expensive underpad. Also underpad in these areas will accumulate and trap the dust and each time you walk on the carpet, all those dust will airborne and will affect the indoor air quality. Especially with high heel shoes it will just create high pressures on a tinny spot which will cause the backing of the carpet to get loose and will ease the fibre to come off. Other thing was the quality of the seam. High traffic areas on the seam had bold spots because the fibre was frayed from the edges. The two part of the cut edges must be sealed with either latex based seam sealer/locker or with a special designed hot melt glue gun. There is no other way that will seal and lock the cut edges from fraying. Some are claiming that a specially designed seaming iron will do the same where the seaming tapes glue is collected in the middle will do this job and there is no need of sealing the edges with the above mentioned method. Seaming tapes glues are just not designed for that, it won’t work. Also the existing seaming tape that’s been used is a high quality seaming tape but is been designed for carpets with action backing not for this 100% wool carpet with jute backing. Wool carpets seaming tape is a special tape that has some tiny metal sheets with less wax on the paper.

The final thing was that the salesman didn’t warned his client if he wouldn’t use vinyl stairs nosing that the carpet on the stairs will be damaged in no time. When I made this inexpensive suggestion to my client along with pointing out the other issues, he was just on the edge and has recognized that we are right by saying “if it doesn’t start right, it will NOT finish right!” So this high quality, luxuries wool carpet with pattern designs is one of the most expensive carpets in the market. There was extra money spend for the underpad which just helps at this moment to speed up the aging process and effects the indoor air quality.

Wrong installation methods have created damages on the seams and on the stair nosing’s. This carpet should have lasted at least 15 years in that environment, but now we’re putting together a proposal to have it replaced just after a 5-6 years life span. It is really frustrating, I always put myself into my client’s shoes and I don’t fully enjoy gaining a business out of similar situations. But this is what we do at and earn our living; we serve to clients who had a bad experience and now looking to do it with the right contractor. Unfortunately, now it’s too late to use the right installation method since the custom made baseboards having a higher gap and if we install the carpet without the underpad, there will be a noticeable gap between the carpet and base mouldings.