Upon returning home to your apartment, after a long day at work, all you want is some peace and quiet. As you close the front door and kick off your shoes, you walk over to the sofa to relax. Unfortunately, before you can clear up your head, your neighbor begins playing opera music at a volume loud enough to be considered a live performance. Not the quietest welcome home.
One of your carpet's advantages is that that dampens the noises around you. In fact, carpeting can create a comfortable and soft feel in your home. It can also be a beautiful accessory and can really liven up a room. Very often, the color and style of your carpet is as important to your apartment's design as the furniture you select.
Once you've picked out the perfect combination of style and color, it's time to decide wherever you are going to hire a pro to install it or try to DIY. There are a lot of things to consider before you start installing carpets by yourself. In most cases, it's wise to get someone with experience to do the job.
DIY vs Professional Carpet Installation
A major advantage of installing your own carpet is that you'll save money. The usual expenses of installation, labor and removal of the old carpet will be eliminated. The only large costs on your end will be the carpet itself and any special tools that you might need to buy or rent. Also, the timing of the job is entirely up to you. Instead of waiting for the installation schedules most companies give you, you can begin the task when you want and work at your own pace. Finally, the quality of the task is in your hands. If you're worried about hiring a company only to find out later they have done a poor job, then this is your chance to make your carpet look its best.
With all that said, there are certainly some downsides to tackling the installation project on your own. For instance, if you find that the job is a little more difficult than you've expected, but you've already rented some portions and cut others, then your carpet's warranty will most likely no longer be valid. So, if you've done a poor job, there's no one to help you cover the cost. Also, as it can be difficult for you to use the equipment, this may cause issues for someone who's never tried to lay a carpet before. While the installation can be a DIY project, it's important to remember that it's also a large undertaking and one that requires a lot of determination and work.
Finding Competent Carpet Installation Providers
As already discussed, carpet installation is a big job, and if you're going to go with pros, you want to ensure you're getting the best offer for the price you pay. The first thing you'll need to do is research for a carpet installation company. There are many contractors out there that will do carpet installation, including large home-improvement stores. Keep in mind that most carpet retailers have their own carpet installation staff. The good side of working with your retailer is that both the carpet and installation should be fully covered by a warranty. However, it'll be more expensive than going with an independent installer. When you want to hire an independent contractor that will provide the same level of service, you may have to do a bit more research.
So, you've chosen your installer. What is to be expected on the installation day? At the beginning, they will remove your old carpet and dispose of it for a small extra fee. Then they will lay down the underpad, which will make your new carpet more comfortable. An underpad is a foam padding that will make your carpet feel softer when you walk on it. It will also help dampen the noise. After the underpad has been laid, the technician will begin with the carpet.
Your Benefits of Quality Carpet Installation
When you call for a professional to install your new carpet, you expect a certain level of quality and the knowledge that the job will be done to meet exact standards. Installing your own carpet could end up in any number of ways, but if you hire those who know the process, you'll end up with a job well done.
Even if the worst-case scenario happens, such as huge ripples in your new flooring, or the seams are showing, or the carpet is lifting away from the walls, you know you have some recourse against the retailer or contractor that installed it. When working with pros, you should have guarantee that the job will be done right the first time, or you will not have to pay for the repairs. The most appropriate way to avoid mistakes is to make sure the carpet is installed in place correctly the first time.
