Inspecting A Carpet Installation

Carpet installation can be a delicate procedure depending on a variety of aspects that are unique to each house. In particular, carpet installation is difficult with staircases and in rooms where the carpet transitions to other types of flooring. The procedure is not a cheap one and you want to be sure that your new investment was done properly. Whether you just had new carpeting installed, or bought a new home, it is important to look at a few aspects to ensure that the job was done right.

Smooth Seams
Carefully check where your carpet meets walls, baseboards, doorways, and any other borders of the room. If the edges are not tucked neatly under the walls and you see loose or frayed edges, then the carpet was not installed very well. To prevent loose seems, carpet installers typically secure the edges with additional tacks, carpet tape, transition strips or extra adhesives to reduce the probability of carpet separating from the boarders. If you are noticing this after getting new carpeting installed, contact the installation professional to come and repair the carpet seams.

Buckling or Divets
To check for buckling and divets in your carpet, lay down on your stomach so that you can view the carpet from a different angle. If you are not seeing and hills our valleys in the surface of the carpet, then your installer did a good job. Obviously you want your carpet to be smooth and level with the floor of your home. Although, if you are seeing some troublesome areas the cause may not be from the carpet installer. Sometimes this will mean that the subfloor is damaged and warped. However, the installer should alert you to this issue prior to installing the new carpeting. If you notice any divets or buckles, notify to the installer.

Wrinkles and Folds
In a proper carpet installation the installer will pull and stretch the fabric over the carpet tracks to ensure that there are no wrinkles. In the event that you installer hasn’t done this adequately you will see wrinkles in the surface of your carpet. There is a chance that a small wrinkle in the padding is the culprit and this is not problematic. You can check this by stepping lightly on the wrinkle to see if it disappears immediately. If it does then you are fine. If it doesn’t disappear immediately, the carpet was improperly installed.

Stair Liners and Edges
This inspection is only for those that have carpeted their stairs. Closely examine the wall side of the stairs and confirm that there is a smooth edge along where the carpet meets the wall. Now take a look at the other side that is exposed and would typically support the stair railing. Ensure that the carpet wraps tightly around the tread with no gaps or loose ends. If there is no looseness or wrinkles present, then your carpet was installed appropriately.

If there are any instances, outside of what was mentioned here, in which your carpet is being troublesome please share and we would be happy to provide help.