Browse Forums Flooring & Floor Covering Re: Proper carpet laying 21Aug 14, 2008 7:13 pm Hey Ash, can i ask how good is a Bulldog stretcher as compared to a power stretcher when laying carpet???? Re: Proper carpet laying 22Aug 14, 2008 10:03 pm Not sure about the term 'bulldog' stretcher. It might be another name for a tubeless restretcher or mini-power stretcher, which is acceptable as per the stated Standard. I have a tubeless type power stretcher. It grips behind the gripper (smoothedge) and pulls the carpet onto it. A true power stretcher has a series of tubes that are assembled to push the carpet from the oppposite wall.
Let me explain a little about the Standard and power stretchers.... Almost all layers are taught by their peers to stretch in a carpet with a knee kicker. It is habit, and because its quicker, (and everyone wants cheap and quick) it is the way most do it. Laying with a power stretcher is slower. A skilled layer probably can lay a carpet well most of the time without a power stretcher, despite it not conforming to the Standard. However, I commonly see issues with carpets that are the result of poor laying. On the other hand, a poor layer can have all the tools (including a power stretcher) and do a shit job. It can be a fuzzy thing defining how much tension is placed on a carpet when layed. The Standard does a reasonable job at stating how it should be, but every room is a different shape etc, and tension can vary. The bottom line is, carpet should be laid very tight (however it gets tensioned. If a contractor has stated in writing that a power stretcher will be used and that laying will be to Australian Standards, then that is what you should get. If they actually don't, and there is an issue down the track, you have grounds for it to be rectified. Hope that helps. Phoenix, you can ring me if you want clarification. Ash. Re: Proper carpet laying 23Aug 14, 2008 10:07 pm bec with large room a join can be a necessary evil even if very careful placed so does a join in a carpet wear in in time or is what you see straight after laying what your stuck with? How much a join shows is subject to (A) the type of carpet, and (B) the skill and care applied by the layer. Many will be pretty much invisible, but there are many variables of carpet types. Things like lighting can have a bearing too, and the Standard for laying has guidelines for where joins can be placed, and how joins are made. A good layer is essential, but not that easy to get. Ash. Carpet Advice - Any one used Cronulla Carpet???? 24Aug 26, 2008 7:59 pm Hello,
Need some help here. Just bought an apt and needed some renovation work. Has anyone used Cronulla Carpet to do their carpet? Are they reliable as they say? They kept saying trust them, trust them but nothing on writing, till I insisted a formal quotation before giving them any deposit. Is it common for suppliers to ask for 50% deposit in order to place your order??? What other things do you need to insist when they give you the quotation? Is it enough for them to put down the carpet name, color and blue underlay? Is blue underlay the same as Supa blue underlay?? How do you add on the clause re installation being compliant to the AS standards if they have not indicated on the contract?? They said his guys can lay the carpet (lounge / dining and 2 bedrooms) within half a day!! Does this imply that they are not laying the carpet according to Aus standard? They couldn't advise on the installation warranty period. Does this sound ******* at all?? Thanks! Re: Proper carpet laying 25Aug 26, 2008 9:25 pm royalblue Not sure about the term 'bulldog' stretcher. It might be another name for a tubeless restretcher or mini-power stretcher, which is acceptable as per the stated Standard. I have a tubeless type power stretcher. It grips behind the gripper (smoothedge) and pulls the carpet onto it. A true power stretcher has a series of tubes that are assembled to push the carpet from the oppposite wall. Let me explain a little about the Standard and power stretchers.... Almost all layers are taught by their peers to stretch in a carpet with a knee kicker. It is habit, and because its quicker, (and everyone wants cheap and quick) it is the way most do it. Laying with a power stretcher is slower. A skilled layer probably can lay a carpet well most of the time without a power stretcher, despite it not conforming to the Standard. However, I commonly see issues with carpets that are the result of poor laying. On the other hand, a poor layer can have all the tools (including a power stretcher) and do a shit job. It can be a fuzzy thing defining how much tension is placed on a carpet when layed. The Standard does a reasonable job at stating how it should be, but every room is a different shape etc, and tension can vary. The bottom line is, carpet should be laid very tight (however it gets tensioned. If a contractor has stated in writing that a power stretcher will be used and that laying will be to Australian Standards, then that is what you should get. If they actually don't, and there is an issue down the track, you have grounds for it to be rectified. Hope that helps. Phoenix, you can ring me if you want clarification. Ash. So sorry Ash, i missed this reply...thanks for the advice...you're a sweetie! Nothing has been resolved as yet and its been over 6 weeks now....i'll give them a little longer then maybe call the contacts you gave me. Will be in touch. Re: Carpet Advice - Any one used Cronulla Carpet???? 26Aug 27, 2008 11:06 am Newbie8 Hello, Need some help here. Just bought an apt and needed some renovation work. Has anyone used Cronulla Carpet to do their carpet? Are they reliable as they say? They kept saying trust them, trust them but nothing on writing, till I insisted a formal quotation before giving them any deposit. Is it common for suppliers to ask for 50% deposit in order to place your order??? What other things do you need to insist when they give you the quotation? Is it enough for them to put down the carpet name, color and blue underlay? Is blue underlay the same as Supa blue underlay?? How do you add on the clause re installation being compliant to the AS standards if they have not indicated on the contract?? They said his guys can lay the carpet (lounge / dining and 2 bedrooms) within half a day!! Does this imply that they are not laying the carpet according to Aus standard? They couldn't advise on the installation warranty period. Does this sound ******* at all?? Thanks! Hi N8, Lot of questions there, and I don't necessarily know all the answers. Sounds to me though, that you aren't comfortable or trusting of this particular store. Shop around and ask questions of others. Its an important buying decision, so take your time. A few random things.... Carpet manufacturers will have in their terms of sale & warranty that they are laid as per AS/NZS 2455 and possibly make other specifications to which they must be laid. They usually also say which underlay/s are recommended. You can assert yourself at the point of sale, by stating you will EXPECT it to be laid properly, and will hold them to it. I think it is common for them to want a deposit of around 50% to order carpets in. Have fun! Ash. Re: Proper carpet laying 28Aug 27, 2008 2:20 pm Newbie8 Hi Ash, Thanks for the reply. I did shop around and all the shops didn't know about the standard. What's the worst case scenario if they do what they normally do? LOL, you have the crap like i've had from our flooring supplier!!! If they dont know, my opinion is get them to double check, if they cant or wont, then go elsewhere. There are plenty of suppliers around, some would be worth every cent as opposed to others who try to cut corners etc!!! Good Luck with it Newbie8!!! Re: Proper carpet laying 29Aug 27, 2008 2:28 pm Guess I really hv to pray hard that it will go well. My colleague referred to the shop. The sales guy told me it's 1 yr installation warranty and of cos, kept selling that they have been in the biz for 60 years ...they do it to the standard. Re: Proper carpet laying 30Aug 27, 2008 6:57 pm Check the website link below for a list of 'accredited' retailers. For ref I swotted up on carpet laying must-do's and then went to my local Carpet One store - they are accredited - and then proceeded to grill them about their procedures; they got everything right yay!
The other store I went to - the "Ive been in this business 30 years" kind - gave me some ******* info and his quote was actually more expensive http://www.carpetinstitute.com.au/retai ... ailers.htm HTH Re: Proper carpet laying 32Aug 27, 2008 11:30 pm newbie,
I am not a member here: http://www.cedia.com.au/ Does that mean am unable to install a good home theatre? Dont worry too much about 'lists' as sometimes people pay a lot of money to be accredited to something that is sometimes not always 100% correct. _kelly_ I am not saying you are wrong just that in my opinion these lists are not always worth the piece of paper they are written on. If the salesman is good ... thats great!! But what about the sub contractor who is laying the carpet? my 2c Re: Proper carpet laying 33Aug 29, 2008 8:23 pm Hi Matt,
Thanks for the note! I'm hoping for the better too...2 pple I know got their carpet laid by pple not accredited and no complaints ... then again, they only did it recently... too early to tell! Re: Proper carpet laying 34Sep 08, 2008 9:07 pm **Phoenix** Hey Ash, can i ask how good is a Bulldog stretcher as compared to a power stretcher when laying carpet???? A bulldog stretcher is what proceeded knee kickers and power stretchers. Apparently they were pushed with your chest. I have never seen one though. Re: Proper carpet laying 35Oct 17, 2008 12:54 pm im accredited/qualified what ever you would like to call it, and i finished my appship in a class of 7 people.
out of that class of 7, i finished on top and there was only one other person in that class id trust to lay carpet. tafe hands out certificates to anyone who showed up for enough hours, you basically cant fail. so unfortunatley being qualified doesnt really mean much in the carpet laying trade, as most of the good layers are still not qualified. I take pride in every job i do, i dont care how long it takes me. i do everything by the book to the best i can. While this makes me and the client happy, it doesnt really get me more work becuase in the end it comes down to how good the salesman at our shop vs. another shop is. some quick tips check that - they are going to power stretch it - no exceptions. they are going to use arcitectural (spelling?) smoothedge. not domestic. you can tell this by having no less than 3 rows of pins, where domestic has 2. By the standards domestic smoothedge isint allowed on residential heavy duty carpet. a good underlay - compare the underlay they reccomend to you in the shop to samples of others, feeling samples of underlay its quite easy to tell crap from good. ask exactly where the joins are going to be - make sure they stick to this on the day they come to lay it ! you are better off paying for a little extra carpet to get rid of cross joins. #4 hire me to do your job thats all i can think of right now. Re: Proper carpet laying 38Oct 17, 2008 4:06 pm Well I’m impressed with everything steveo247 has said!
He is spot on with the joins in the carpet. And power stretchers…..yes another one. Good luck with your work steveo247! Internal and External Building and Colour Consultant Online - Worldwide http://www.denovoconcepts.com Re: Proper carpet laying 39Oct 17, 2008 4:38 pm steveo247 im in bathurst nsw, but i can reccomend a top quality layer in sydney if you like! Oh yes please !!!!! Hopefully, he does work in the Sutherland shire. Built the Eden Brae Cambridge 34 Family with Boston Corner Facade Re: Proper carpet laying 40Oct 17, 2008 5:16 pm steveo247 im in bathurst nsw, but i can reccomend a top quality layer in sydney if you like! love bathurst! I'm a member at the golf club there (country - we live in Sydney) After 4 years - we're in! I'm about to put down some Merbau. Is it necessary to oil underneath the boards before laying? 0 1932 Hey There. No problems re jumping in. My original question was "should I have waterproofed" the concrete slab before putting batons down. We have been told we should… 7 4327 1 11004 |