Carpet Installation - Powerstretch & Denting Wall

17 years ago

I have 2 questions regarding carpet installation on our brand-new stairs and the upstairs hallway.

1] The stairs are boxed-in, with nice oak skirting right up against the stair treads and risers. If I cover the oak skirting with painters tape, would this help prevent the oak veneer from getting scratched at carpet-laying time?

2] I'm assuming that the hall should be power-stretched. Could the power stretcher work properly when one end of the hall is a doorway with only 4 - 5 inches of wall on either side? Also, is it even possible to power-stretch the width of the hall?

--Thank you!

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Comments (3)

floorguy
17 years ago
It depends on who you hired to install the carpet. Oh, you don't know exactly who is installing it, you just paid a salesman... YIKES!!!

The most important day in the life of your carpet, is the day it is installed, and by who installs it. Cheap subcontract labor, is taught to get it in as fast as humanly possible, because the price per sq.ft. dictated to them is so low, corners must be cut, or no real profit is made by the subcontractor.

Now with that said, and you obviously already don't trust the installers to meet your expectations before they have even started. tape to your hearts desire, but don't ask them to remove the tape.

If they don't have the proper door brace/deadman to fit across a doorway to stretch off of, you hired the wrong guy!!
emmarrie
Original Author
17 years ago
---Thanks for your comments, Floorguy!
---Yup, I did make a down payment to our (very) local retailer for the carpet installation. They employ 2 installers (O'Hanis 15 years exp. & Larry 10 years exp.) and the store owner comes over to check up on them after the job is finished. They do use power stretcher and have agreed to install as per CRI-105 standards, initialing off my rather picky list of CRI-105 Highlights. They encouraged me to take the time to talk with the (English-speaking) installers (on install day) to agree fully on all this before they begin installing. I am to watch them as they work to make sure I'm pleased, and I am to approve their work before paying them. They have an official 1-year installation warranty, and verbally promised to be available "indefinitely" should any installation issue arise in the future. Also, Angie's List has 9 very positive reviews for them, including stair carpet and comments on how they didn't scratch woodwork.
---I am aware, however, that this ain't the same as hiring a fully independent, certified carpet installer. Thus, my questions regarding a couple of details that I left out of my "Highlights" document.
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floorguy
17 years ago
Dang, then why ask the original question. You no longer sound doubtful any longer. You can thank me later for the confidence booster.