New carpets!

[Zeener Diode]

I just had new carpeting installed in two rooms of my house today.

I was amazed at how quickly it got done. Two guys showed up at my door at 8:00:14 this morning (when they told me they'd be here at 8 AM, they weren't joking!) I spent this past week moving furniture and junk out of the rooms, then yesterday I ripped up all the old carpeting and pads, removed the staples, and swept the floors. I have lovely hardwood floors but because the rooms are small (12x10, and 10x10) sound resonates within; carpet acts as a buffer.

So these two guys show up and immediately go to work, replacing the bad tack strips and laying down the pads. Next they cut the carpet and stretched it across the rooms, then laying down the edges in doorways and vacuuming it. By 9:45 they were loading their tools in their van and I was signing the receipt.

Now comes the hard part: bringing all the crap, er, furnishings back into the rooms. But the new carpet looks great!

[3acres]

Experienced tradesmen can really be amazing to watch. I remember when I got my house drywalled. A hundred years old, three stories, all kinds of angles, nooks and crannies, and the ceilings over the staircases were (to me) intimidating as hell. It took a couple weeks to find the guys I needed, but some other rehabbers recommended the Presley brothers. These guys hated new developments, as it "wasn't interesting". They came in and did the entire house in two days. Meticulous work: no sloppy cuts, no tiny pieces, fully taped, mudded and smoothed. They told me the less time they wasted, the more money they made. I think they made a lot; I know they were worth every penny I paid them.

[Solfy]

I love carpet. I don't have it downstairs because it's too hard to keep clean, but if money were no object I'd carpet my 600sq ft great room. (and I'd have to replace it every couple of years because it'd be trashed) We've got really big area rugs downstairs
(cheaper and easier to replace as needed) and wall-to-wall in the bedrooms (but the installers did a hack job in my room; I can see the seam plainly).

[SmartAleq]

Man, if I had hardwood floors I'd be all about it and just putting down area rugs--the best part about those is that you can use different ones in winter and summer, very handy. Some day I want to rip up my carpet and redo the concrete underneath with that nice dyed and textured effect, then I'll get big luxe wool rugs to slap down over it. Then in summer I'd put down something like bamboo mats or something to take advantage of the cement slab as a cooling heat sink.

But hey, glad you're liking it--and where are the pics, hmmmm?

[bufftabby]

Yes, but does it match the drapes?

[Zeener Diode]

I grew up in a house with hardwood floors--- living and dining rooms--- and we had a huge braided rug in the living room. I really want to do that with my front room but there isn't enough floor space between furnishings to accommodate a rug bigger than 8x4. I'd be sliding on it every time I walked into the room.

Originally Posted by bufftabby

Yes, but does it match the drapes?

It would, if I had drapes... these days, drapes are a forgotten memory.

[Zeener Diode]

Originally Posted by SmartAleq

Man, if I had hardwood floors I'd be all about it and just putting down area rugs--the best part about those is that you can use different ones in winter and summer, very handy. Some day I want to rip up my carpet and redo the concrete underneath with that nice dyed and textured effect, then I'll get big luxe wool rugs to slap down over it. Then in summer I'd put down something like bamboo mats or something to take advantage of the cement slab as a cooling heat sink.

That does sound cool!

But hey, glad you're liking it--and where are the pics, hmmmm?

If you insist... but they're kinda boring.

[Salambo]

Oooh, looks nice! Did you get it done by those guys with the ads where the guy speaks with a pleasant voice and little computer animated men install the carpet? Got that catchy jingle... 800 nahnahdee do dee do dee... EMPIRE! Bomp.

Those guys? I heard they were particularly good, on time, all that good stuff.

Either way, it's funny how a simple change like new carpet can make a room feel fresh and new. Enjoy!

[severe delays]

Having spent the weekend laying vinyl flooring it is my considered opinion that carpet would be a doddle to lay. Especially if I had someone doing all the hard work of clearing the room first!

[Taur]

Never underestimate exactly how heavy a roll of carpeting is and how heavy it will feel by the time you're done lugging it from the vehicle and into a room.

[severe delays]

Originally Posted by Board Taurus

Never underestimate exactly how heavy a roll of carpeting is and how heavy it will feel by the time you're done lugging it from the vehicle and into a room.

Never underestimate how heavy vinyl flooring will be when it's rolled up around a treesworth of cardboard.

[Taur]

I won't because I'll be buying the tiles that come in 5 kg boxes.

[severe delays]

Nah, you need glue with those. Too much trouble. Sheet vinyl is moar awsum.

[Taur]

Not necessarily; they also come in peel and stick.

[severe delays]

I cannot imagine this going well. Please take video!

[Taur]

I might have to hold the camera in my mouth but I'll give it a go next time.

[Romola]

SD and i did consider going professional as vinyl flooring layers. As long as we send the people out of the house first and they don't see how we got to the end result (No, wait - why am I marking this bit, we're cutting the other way, this is the bit we have to keep!....And I'm measuring in...? ..Centimetres?...Ok, and how many centimetres am I measuring in? )

[severe delays]

And we need to get the money up front! Don't forget that bit!

That centimetres line still cracks me up. I swear it seemed like the answer to your question!

[Zeener Diode]

Originally Posted by Salambo

Oooh, looks nice! Did you get it done by those guys with the ads where the guy speaks with a pleasant voice and little computer animated men install the carpet? Got that catchy jingle... 800 nahnahdee do dee do dee... EMPIRE! Bomp.

Those guys? I heard they were particularly good, on time, all that good stuff.

Either way, it's funny how a simple change like new carpet can make a room feel fresh and new. Enjoy!

Thanks!

I had Paulson's do the work. They gave me a better rate than Empire (which was higher than three other local flooring outfits!), plus they were willing to come out on Saturday at no extra charge. Because of my modest rooms, Empire couldn't offer me the special "Two Rooms for the price of One" deal. (I checked their rep online; they have a lot of positive reviews.)

[Zeener Diode]

I had rolled vinyl installed in my bathroom two years ago. It looks alright.

When I'm ready to replace the kitchen flooring I think I'll install the tiles that BT mentioned: they are easy to lay and come with self-adhesive backing. I watched my neighbor install them in his kitchen and it looked easy enough. I'm told that they don't hold up as well as rolled tile, but my budget doesn't allow premium flooring. And bamboo looks very nice but it will dent much easier than Pergo.

[Euryphaessa]

Originally Posted by Salambo

Oooh, looks nice! Did you get it done by those guys with the ads where the guy speaks with a pleasant voice and little computer animated men install the carpet? Got that catchy jingle... 800 nahnahdee do dee do dee... EMPIRE! Bomp.

This made me giggle.

And it's 800 588 2300!

[The Futility of Nihilism]

I think Ashton is Zeener's dog and this is his way of letting Zeener know he just peed on Zeener's not-quite-a-year-old carpet.

[Glazer]

Originally Posted by 3acres

Experienced tradesmen can really be amazing to watch.

After installing a heavy glass frameless shower encloser in an hour and a half. This homeowner ask me why he's paying $400 labor for only 1 1/2 hours work.
I told him we would have gladly sold him the glass and let him install it. He paid right up.

By the way we spent more than 1 1/2 hours working on his shower just not at his house.