'Pre-decorating' problem

15 years ago

Hi all. I am an infrequent poster by read fairly often. I have a house problem that I was hoping you could help me with. If I solve this, I am freed up to do more decorating. : )

I live in a 6 year-old home that I am generally happy with. We were not involved with the building of the house, as we moved from out-of-state and found this house when it was complete. The builder definitely cut some corners, and it is starting to show. One of the problems I am having is that my carpet, though nice quality, is rippling in spots. I have had someone here to stretch it twice over the years. The person who stretched it thought that the builder didn't use tack strip under the baseboard heaters (maybe because it was hard to get under there) and instead just shoved the edge of the wall to wall carpet under and hoped it would stay. I am thinking that the only way to really remedy this problem is to have the carpet laid over again. The thing is, it is in really good condition (it's upstairs and we don't walk up here with shoes).

Has anyone ever had carpet re-laid with out putting in new? We have some very heavy bedroom furniture, and some large bookcases in our office. It would be quite a task to move all of that. I've never lived anywhere long enough to replace carpet, so I have no idea how this is done once furniture is in the room.

I really want to have our whole upstairs painted, too, and I was wondering if I could coordinate the carpet and the painting, since the painters would have to move this furniture, as well, to get to the walls. Not so much the bedroom furniture, but the book cases (which would at least have to be scooted out.

Any thoughts?

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

arcy_gw
15 years ago
We are having this issue, rippling and have debated having it re-stretched. We suspect our issue is poor quality padding. I am not happy to hear your guy has been there twice and didn't install it properly? I would have thought when he suspected the issue he would have at least suggested his putting in the strips, installing it properly. How did he "re-stretch" it, if not pulling from one edge? Why would he think his work would fix it if he didn't put in the tack strips? To my way of thinking he should be able to fix your issue with out re-laying the carpet.
graywings123
15 years ago
Just my opinion, but . . . both sets of workmen will be moving the furniture around to accommodate what they are doing at that moment. Neither the painters nor the carpet layers will want to do extra moving work to accommodate the other project.

You could have the painting done right after the carpet re-laying while things are in disarray. That would save you the trouble of removing everything from bookshelves and table tops twice.

I think you are doing the right thing with the carpet. I worked in an office with a wrinkled carpet. There were several attempts to fix it and it didn't work.
Related Professionals
Leominster Interior Designers & Decorators · Laconia Interior Designers & Decorators · Eau Claire Interior Designers & Decorators · Napa Interior Designers & Decorators · Great Falls Interior Designers & Decorators · Tacoma Interior Designers & Decorators · Brunswick Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Covington Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · York Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Rochester Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Show Low Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Modesto Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Dothan Furniture & Accessories · Carbondale Furniture & Accessories · Trenton Furniture & Accessories
dawnbc
15 years ago
I had a rippling problem with a carpet once and had it restretched several times. It wasn't until all the furniture was removed from the room that they were able to do the job properly the third time.

If there are tack strips missing, when the room is empty would be the time to get that fixed too.
lindac
15 years ago
I've just been through a $7,000 issue at church with rippling carpet. It had been stretched once....
What I learned is the poor quality pad was the culprit....and after the carpet has been stretched and continued to ripple and get walked on and vacuumed, that eventually it delaminated from the backing and the ripples just got worse and worse.
I think you have little choice but to have it relaid and a new pad would really help...
Or just have it stretched again.....and plan on replacing it in the future...worn out or not.
Linda C
arcy_gw
15 years ago
I am in SHOCK, a reputable carpet installer came to stretch a carpet and you were not informed the room should be EMPTY? I am just flabbergasted. Yes, often when average to good carpet does not hold up, the issue is the cheap pad under neath. Just because you can't see it doesn't mean it can be cheap!
blubird
15 years ago
I suspect that the stretching has little or nothing to do with the lack of tack strips in small areas. I've had lots of carpeting over the many years I've been married. Until the last carpet installations over the last 5-6 years, I've never had a problem with carpet stretching. I've had each room stretched at least once, but they continue to ripple eventually. The backing on the last batch of carpeting, all different types and different brands, seem to be a polyester fibre, as opposed to the older jute-style backing. I'm starting to think it's the backing and I'd be curious to find out what kind of backing yours has.

Helene