Sitemap

How
To Choose New Flooring
Like A Pro!
Carpet
| Vinyl
Tile & Plank | Hardwood
| Local
Stores
(Free
Information by Consumer Advocate - No Flooring Sales)
How
To Find Carpet
Installers
Plus:
Top 10
Questions To Ask - Before You Hire!
Q.
Is there a qualified carpet installer near me?
Locating
qualified independent carpet installers can be challenging. There is a huge lack of
well-trained and experienced carpet installers right now. The demand for a qualified
carpet installer has increased significantly over the past decade. Installation
costs availability have also increased due to increased fuel and material prices
and supply chain interruptions.
There
are not enough young people entering the carpet and flooring installation trade to keep up with current
and future demand. This is compounded by a lack of available training programs,
incentives and apprenticeships. Over the next 10 years approximately 180,000
installers must be recruited, trained and working in the industry, just to keep up
with current growth within the flooring industry. This means locating qualified
carpet installers is becoming more difficult.
If
you are hoping to find and hire an independent carpet installer you need to
make sure to ask
all the right questions and be able to evaluate the answers you receive.
That way you can determine who will be your best choice when hiring an
independent carpet or flooring installer.
Well-Established
Carpet Stores
Most
locally-owned and well-established carpet and flooring retailers have their own
in-house installation crews. If you buy new carpet and padding from them, they
can provide qualified installation for you as part of a package deal.
This is the main reason why I
think you should buy from an honest and reputable carpet store and let them
handle all the installation details for you. By paying
the retailer directly for the carpet, padding and installation you bypass the
need to hire an independent carpet installer.
Guaranteed
Carpet Installation
When
you buy from a reputable flooring dealer, the main benefit for you is that they guarantee their
installations. That means if you ever have an installation problem, they will be
ready and willing to answer
your call and promptly do whatever it takes to make sure
all your concerns are addressed.
You don't
always get this benefit
when you hire an independent
carpet installer. Independent is they key word here, these installers are not
attached to any retailer or location and might not be available in the future if
and when you call for help.
If
You Need To Hire An Independent Carpet Installer
If
you buy carpet and pad from a secondary source, and need to hire an independent installer...
The most
qualified independent Installers rarely
need to advertise to find work because of their good reputation. Finding a qualified independent
installer takes time and
patience.
Finding a top-notch carpet installer can be difficult
and getting your carpet installed quickly may be next to impossible as the best
installers are often booked up weeks in advance. For this reason, you would be wise to
start your search for a qualified independent installer well in advance
and before you place your order for new carpet.
Another
way to find an installer is by word of mouth!
Asking your friends, relatives and co-workers may yield some positive results,
but you still need to ask these 10 questions
outlined below.
Carpet
retailers are usually reluctant to loan out their in-house carpet installers for
side jobs because they prefer to keep their installers on a tight schedule.
You can call around to see if any
local carpet store has
suggestions, but you
still need to be careful and make sure the installer you hire has the right experience for your
type of installation. It is wise to check references and verify required licensing
within your state. Learn how to How to Verify a Contractor's
License.
Print
My Free Questionnaire
10
Questions to Ask
Independent
Carpet
Installers...
Before
you hire!
(Click
on image to view full size or print)
The
Carpet
Installation Warranty
Most
independent carpet installers offer a one-year installation warranty. You would be
wise to get it in writing. If you ever have
an installation problem or complaint, you will have to track them down and
hope they answer your call and are willing come back and take care of your problem.
Some
installers frequently move to areas where work is plentiful. Work might be plentiful
where you live today, but tomorrow the work may be more plentiful or the pay may
be better somewhere else. If your installer moves to another city or state,
you may be forced to hire a different installer to fix your problem.
Where
To Find Qualified Carpet Installers?
Q.
How do I find an experienced carpet installer near me?
You
can call a local carpet installation supply company to get a recommendation
for a good installer. These companies provide all the products that carpet
installers need including tools, seam tape, tackless strips, transition metals
and adhesives.
The people working in the warehouse know which installers are
active and use quality supplies. They usually have a corkboard on the wall where
installers can place their business cards. A
Google search for a Carpet Sundries business near you will show who you
can call to
ask about a carpet installer recommendation.
You could also visit one of these
businesses early in the morning, before 8 am and speak directly with installers who are
picking up supplies for the day. Here in Portland Oregon, I purchased most of my
carpet tools and sundries from T & A
Supply.
Finding
the Right Installer
If you hire an
inexperienced flooring installer you
might save some money, but you may not be happy with the
final outcome. The
best carpet installers usually charge a little more and are often booked up
weeks in advance, but the wait is well worth the cost and the wait if you want to get top-notch installation!
Some
carpet installation jobs are more difficult than others and require that you
hire a well experienced installer. For example, installing
expensive carpet in a custom home requires much more expertise than does
installing apartment-grade carpet in a rental unit.
Everyone wants
their carpet installed correctly, and hiring an installer with minimum of
5 years experience is where I would draw the line with a simple installation
job. So, if you buy a more
expensive carpet or your carpet job is quite large, more difficult or tricky, than you should find
a carpet installer with more years of experience.
I personally believe that it takes at least 10
years before a flooring installer can truly begin to master their
trade. Unfortunately,
many carpet installers
NEVER become anything more than an average installer because they either lack
the formal training, or don't have the ambition to become a master of their
trade. They might just prefer to install low-quality
products and make just enough money to get by. These are not the type of installers
you want to hire because you cannot depend on them to do a good job or even show up.
This
is why some folks refer to them as fly-by-night installers.
They prefer to work "under the table" to
be paid in cash and may offer you a discount if you do. Bear
in mind, if you pay in cash and don't get a written receipt with their name and
state issued contractor license information, then they may not be willing to
stand behind their workmanship.
Without
a valid state-issued contractor's license, you will not
have any recourse if they leave town, retire, become incarcerated or cannot be contacted
when you have an installation problem or complaint. How to Verify a Contractor's License
Be
Careful Who You Hire!
Incompetent
or inexperienced carpet installers
are fairly easy to spot. You want your new carpet installed right the first
time. But if you ever have a problem with the installation, you also need to
feel confident the installer will be willing to come back and address your concerns.
That's why
it is important for you to meet any potential carpet installer before you hire
them, and ask them these 10
questions. Sometimes
you don't have a chance to meet the installer before you schedule the install.
When they show up to install your carpet you might have a last-minute chance to
change your mind if something doesn't look or feel right.
Trust your instincts,
it might be better to cancel and reschedule your install rather than take your
chances with an installer of questionable character.
Watch
out for Red-Flags and
Warning Signs!
I
find that reputable carpet and flooring installers take pride in their work and
present themselves in a professional manor. Here are 10 reasons
why you might want to consider hiring a
different installer.
1.
They don't return your calls or fail to keep you informed.
2.
They drive a beat up vehicle with trash on the dash.
3.
Their spouse or friend does the driving.
4.
They wear tattered or mismatched clothing.
5.
Their shoes are held together with duct tape.
6.
They wreak of stale beer and cigarettes.
7.
They don't use a power stretcher.
8.
They bring along children or pets.
9.
They are unorganized and ill-prepared.
10.
They ask to be paid in advance.
What
Type of Experience Do They Have?
Some carpet installers
can charge more because they are more experienced in doing more difficult jobs
like custom homes and
commercial work. Some charge
less because they are used to doing easier jobs like apartments or property management work.
You need to determine what level of expertise your job requires and then hire an
installer according to their level of expertise and standard pay rate to match
your job requirements. Berber
Carpeting. If you are just carpeting one or two rooms with an
inexpensive carpet, you don't need to hire the best and most expensive carpet
installer in town. Carpeting your whole house with expensive carpet and having a
challenging layout would demand hiring the absolute best carpet installer you
can find. Learn
more about Carpet Installation Cost
4
Levels Of Installer
Experience
1.
Property Management Carpet Installer
The
majority of experience of this type of carpet installer is obtained from installing
low to medium grades of carpet in unoccupied apartments or rental property. They have limited
experience with installing carpet on stairs, and limited experience with
difficult or tricky installations.
They generally use lower quality
installation products (glues, seam tape, tack-less strips, transition
metals) in order to save money. They charge less per yard because the
job is less demanding and they are able to install more yards in a day. Installers who do apartment
or property management work are
generally paid the least amount per yard of all installers.
Rental
property owners and on-site managers don't always inspect the quality of work by installers
because the carpet is replaced every few years.
Over
the years, many young people have become carpet installers as a result of being
hired as a carpet layers helper and few are formally trained or have
completed an apprentice program. This is not to say that you should not hire
them, but you need to be aware that many may lack the experience to perform
all types of carpet installations.
2.
New Construction
Carpet Installer
Installers with the bulk of their trade experience from new home construction
will have increased knowledge of installing different types of stairs.
(carpet can be very difficult to install on some types of stairs)
They will
have more experience working with various styles, types and grades of carpet as well. They
always have to satisfy the builder and the new homeowners with their
performance, which makes them pay closer attention to detail. Builders
usually pay less than the standard rate for this type of installer but there
is usually a greater volume of work available to the installer.
3.
Residential Remodeling Carpet
Installers
They
show up on time, have a newer vehicle and are neatly dressed. They look
professional and they have good answers to all your carpet questions and
concerns. They install carpet and flooring in nice homes and condos and may even
do commercial work.
These
installers are well seasoned and are paid quite well. They do a great job for residential
remodeling applications, but they command higher than normal fees and are booked weeks
in advance. Be prepared to pay above the going rate for this type of carpet
installer in
your area, but also expect the job to be done right the first time. They are
always licensed, bonded and insured if required.
4. Custom Homes Carpet Installer
These
Carpet Installers are the most experienced and professional installers and as
such are paid well for it. Click on the photo to see who I recommend in
Beaverton Oregon. They do installs in the most expensive homes.
They are usually booked months in advance with
custom home builders and million dollar realtors, and may not be willing to take
on a smaller project. They can be quite picky about the jobs they accept. Their
installation fees can be quite high, but you should expect installation
perfection! They are always licensed, bonded and insured and carry a
Worker's Compensation Policy for their helpers. If
you are able to schedule them, you will receive first-class carpet installation
and the best service. Be prepared to wait several weeks before
they are available to install your new carpet. Think their
installation prices are high? Wait
till you see the cost of hiring a lousy carpet installer! Wondering
about those free carpet
installation specials by Home Depot or Lowe's?
Certified
Flooring Installers
The
International Certified Flooring Installers Association, Inc. (CFI) is a
non-profit organization dedicated to improving flooring installation in the
residential and commercial fields through training and certification.
You can also
visit the CFI
website to try to locate a qualified carpet installer near you. They have a
searchable database of certified installers nationwide. If you find an installer
near you, perhaps you might ask them to visit to measure and evaluate your
project needs and goals, discuss seam placement options and schedule a time
to install your new carpet!
Q.
Is there a qualified Carpet Installer Near me?
Not
only must you hire a qualified carpet installer, you must also choose the right
grade of carpet and padding too. Just as important is making sure you buy from
an honest and reputable carpet and flooring dealer. That's how to buy new carpet
and have it installed like a pro! See who I recommend near you.
Learn
more:
|