Browse Forums Flooring & Floor Covering 1 May 10, 2010 9:49 pm The house that so was shiny and new when we moved in 20 years ago is in need of rejuvenation. We have nearly finished repainting the interior and it is getting time to order new carpets and curtains. We have decided to get IQ150 carpet, and after reading this forum we will choose Bridgestone Prime as underlay. When we visited Harvey Norman Carpets to discuss the job we were told that the installers would reuse the existing smoothedge or replace it as required. Is this a reasonable arrangement? Would it be better to insist that all existing smoothedge be replaced just in case? Thanks. Re: Recarpeting after 20 years, replace smoothedge? 2May 10, 2010 10:03 pm Thats pretty much normal, but it depends upon the installer to be diligent when checking the existing smoothedge. Be around when the old carpets are removed, and check it out yourself, but be careful not to prick yourself if probing around!
Smoothedge should all be secure with no movement. If any sections are loose, they should be secured with extra nails. If any has been water damaged it should be replaced. Sometimes the pins are corroded. Its not essential, but these would best be replaced. The gully between the smoothedge and wall should be uniform all around. Gully should be about 60% of carpet thickness (normally about 7-8mm). Check whether the smoothedge is domestic or architectural type. Domestic has 2 rows of pins, and arch has 3 rows of pins. With larger room spans, (more then about 3m) architectural should be used. If not, an extra row of domestic can be fitted in front of the existing stuff. Its not easy getting old stuff up without creating holes in the concrete, so best not to remove smoothedge unless there's a good reason. Any areas that are not fitted securely can lead to problems down the track, so it is an important thing. Let us know how you like the IQ150. It'd be good to get some real feedback! Ash. Re: Recarpeting after 20 years, replace smoothedge? 3May 10, 2010 10:24 pm royalblue Thanks pretty much normal, but it depends upon the installer to be diligent when checking the existing smoothedge. Be around when the old carpets are removed, and check it out yourself, but be careful not to prick yourself if probing around! Smoothedge should all be secure with no movement. If any sections are loose, they should be secured with extra nails. If any has been water damaged it should be replaced. Sometimes the pins are corroded. Its not essential, but these would best be replaced. The gully between the smoothedge and wall should be uniform all around. Gully should be about 60% of carpet thickness (normally about 7-8mm). Check whether the smoothedge is domestic or architectural type. Domestic has 2 rows of pins, and arch has 3 rows of pins. With larger room spans, (more then about 3m) architectural should be used. If not, an extra row of domestic can be fitted in front of the existing stuff. Any areas that are not fitted securely can lead to problems down the track, so it is an important thing. Let us know how you like the IQ150. It'd be good to get some real feedback! Ash. Thanks Ash, I was hoping you would respond. Also will post back about IQ150 in due course. Always a bit of a worry being an earlier adopter, however the US forum chat has been pretty positive so I am expecting the risk is low. Re: Recarpeting after 20 years, replace smoothedge? 4May 11, 2010 6:51 pm Full back some carpet and check what S/E you have. About that era, there was a fibreboard S/E sometimes used. It would swell a LOT if wet, and had no strength. It is/was rubbish. If it is not ply, and IS this fibre S/E, take it up. Re: Recarpeting after 20 years, replace smoothedge? 5May 11, 2010 11:20 pm Mark S Full back some carpet and check what S/E you have. About that era, there was a fibreboard S/E sometimes used. It would swell a LOT if wet, and had no strength. It is/was rubbish. If it is not ply, and IS this fibre S/E, take it up. Thanks. That is exactly what I have got. Good advice Re: Recarpeting after 20 years, replace smoothedge? 6May 12, 2010 2:16 am mustud52 Mark S Pull back some carpet and check what S/E you have. About that era, there was a fibreboard S/E sometimes used. It would swell a LOT if wet, and had no strength. It is/was rubbish. If it is not ply, and IS this fibre S/E, take it up. Thanks. That is exactly what I have got. Good advice Oh. Good pick up Mark! I have come across that cheap fibreboard stuff a number of times, but its pretty uncommon, thankfully. Smoothedge is normally about 7mm thick. The fibreboard stuff is the same, until it gets wet. If it gets quite wet, it will swell to about 20mm or so! Absolute rubbish, and it really should be replaced with decent stuff! It thats the case, insist that architechtural smoothedge is used. Ash. Re: Recarpeting after 20 years, replace smoothedge? 7May 12, 2010 11:41 pm Ash. Update for you :...... 50,000 metres of Smartstrand iq150 down in Australian homes and counting. Re: Recarpeting after 20 years, replace smoothedge? 8May 13, 2010 1:45 am anthony_carter Ash. Update for you :...... 50,000 metres of Smartstrand iq150 down in Australian homes and counting. Well we might find some real feedback filtering through after a while then Anthony! What style/gauge/thickness etc is the predominant style being sold? What secondary backing type? BTW I haven't seen the sample you were talking about. Cheers! Ash. Re: Recarpeting after 20 years, replace smoothedge? 9May 13, 2010 10:22 pm royalblue anthony_carter Ash. Update for you :...... 50,000 metres of Smartstrand iq150 down in Australian homes and counting. Well we might find some real feedback filtering through after a while then Anthony! What style/gauge/thickness etc is the predominant style being sold? What secondary backing type? BTW I haven't seen the sample you were talking about. Cheers! Ash. This could be interesting. For me, anyway. Joe, it depends on your certifier but we are noticing the ones we deal with are really cracking down. So i would recommend you follow your approved landscaping plans to… 4 10973 ok thanks - yes was wondering if that should have been listed as Option Three! 2 7742 |