Not that any of you were seething in anticipation, but I have finally finished with Part II.
We will now discuss payment policies and the installation of your new carpet.
After you have negotiated your Flooring Contract the dealer will most likely ask you for a deposit up front.
This is okay and is a part of an average contract.
They will ask you for a fifty to seventy-five percent deposit.
This money is used to order your materials and insure that the dealer can deliver your contract without any money problems.
Materials and Labor will usually be at least seventy-five to eighty percent of the total cost so they really do need a deposit before they can continue in the contract process.
If you have worked with a dealer before and trust them, you may want to pay the full amount up front.
Most dealers will give you better service if you pay them the whole amount up front in Cash.
But beware, if you don't know the dealer well, you may want to only pay the deposit so that if there are any problems at and after installation you still have some leverage to get those things attended to in a timely manner.
According to most contracts, you must pay your balance upon installation.
However you do have a few days before you must pay.
If there are problems with your installation you must still pay your balance according to law.
But the dealer or contractor is obligated to attend to your problems.
In California a contractor must warranty his labor for one year after installation.
An exceptional dealer and contractor will not limit you to exactly one year though.
A dealer that really cares about his reputation will repair problems even after your year is up.
More often than not, a dealer will have to order the carpet that YOU CHOSE.
Most dealers keep a supply of low to mid-grade carpet in stock.
But since you did your homework and did not settle for anything less than what you wanted, it will most likely have to be ordered.
Expect to wait about two weeks to be scheduled for install.
Less than two weeks can often be accomplished but if you have to wait three weeks or more then this dealer is very busy and you may not get the quality job you should receive.
This is due to the fact that the installers are being pushed to get more done in a shorter time and this can affect the quality of their work.
Before installation takes place, be certain you know if you need to move your own furniture or if you need to pay extra for the installers to move it for you.
If you are moving your own furniture, make sure all furniture is out of the rooms to be installed and that there is a path for the installers to travel with materials and tools.
This will make the installers happy and you will get a better install.
If the installers are to move your furniture, you must still remove all knick-knacks, collectables, books, lamps, etc...
they will only move the large furnishings and not the small items.
Some dealers will work with you if you have a lot of furniture and you are installing new carpet throughout the whole house.
Often an install can be broken down into two days, allowing you time to move furniture from one side of the house to the other, or from room to room.
Be sure you work out these details before the install date, preferably at the time you make your contract with the dealer.
Inspect your carpet and pad before the installers begin their work.
Make certain it is the carpet and pad that you chose, but keep in mind that the carpet color may appear different due to two factors.
One, all carpet dye lots are slightly different and the exact color may vary ¼ shade from the sample you picked from.
Two, the new carpet is rolled tightly on the roll and is therefore the pile is crushed down, do not be alarmed, once the carpet is installed and vacuumed and trafficked it will darken up to the shade of color it is designed to be.
If you have any doubts, ask someone to bring the sample book you chose from to verify the quality of the carpet and roll back an edge of the carpet, fluff it well with your hands and compare it to the sample board.
As I said, slight variations in color are normal but the quality of the carpet should be the same as the sample.
During installation please allow the installers freedom to move in and out of your home.
Put the dogs and cats away, so that they will not be a nuisance.
Some installers don't mind you watching them work, others tend to get nervous if you hover over them and will tend to make mistakes.
As interesting as the install procedure is, please allow your installer to do his job without interruption and everyone will be happier.
If you really feel you must watch, ask the installer if it bothers him for you to watch and maintain a distance so that you do not get in the way.
Most installers are paid by the job and not by the hour, so if they can move about efficiently and swiftly, you will be happier with your install.
Don't expect miracles.
If there are issues with the level of your floors or the straightness of your walls, these are things that the installer has no control over.
However the test of a true professional installer is their capability to mask construction problems that are not his fault or problem.
For example: If he is installing a patterned carpet against a crooked wall, it is not up to him to straighten the wall.
But he can make a crooked wall seem less visible by stretching the carpet tighter in some areas than in others.
A professional installer can work wonders but only God can do Miracles.
This leads me to something very important.
ALL CARPETS MUST BE POWER-STRETCHED.
Do not let anyone convince you otherwise.
The manufacturer of the carpet will not warrant the carpet unless it has been power-stretched.
I have heard stories of installers convincing consumers that they can KICK the carpet just as tight as a power-stretcher, but this is simply not true.
A good and lasting install depends on the carpet having been power-stretched with a special tool made just for that purpose.
You can tell the difference between the knee-kicker and the power-stretcher.
The power-stretcher has a handle that must be pushed down on to stretch the carpet.
A knee-kicker is designed to move the carpet slightly and to set one side of the carpet before power-stretching it into place.
If your installer does not have a power-stretcher I would suggest that you stop the installation until he can go get one, even if it is inconvenient for you at the time.
If you want your carpet to last a long time, it must be power-stretched.
Otherwise your carpet will buckle later and wear twice as fast as it should.
Once the installation is complete, inspect your new floor for anything evident that the installer may have missed.
It is easier to have them repair it while they are there than to have them come back later.
After completion of installation, you are obligated to pay your balance.
If you will do this promptly, you will insure that the dealer will continue to treat you well long after the installation.
A dealer will always want you to be a repeat customer, but that does not mean they want you to have a bad installation so you have to come back sooner than later.
I have been in business long enough to have replaced carpet for customers two to three times over the past thirty years.
After all there is no carpet made that will not eventually wear out.
In closing, keep these things in mind as you make your next carpet purchase and you will be happy for many years to come.
Avoid common mistakes and you can avoid "Post-Carpet-Purchase-Depression.
We will now discuss payment policies and the installation of your new carpet.
After you have negotiated your Flooring Contract the dealer will most likely ask you for a deposit up front.
This is okay and is a part of an average contract.
They will ask you for a fifty to seventy-five percent deposit.
This money is used to order your materials and insure that the dealer can deliver your contract without any money problems.
Materials and Labor will usually be at least seventy-five to eighty percent of the total cost so they really do need a deposit before they can continue in the contract process.
If you have worked with a dealer before and trust them, you may want to pay the full amount up front.
Most dealers will give you better service if you pay them the whole amount up front in Cash.
But beware, if you don't know the dealer well, you may want to only pay the deposit so that if there are any problems at and after installation you still have some leverage to get those things attended to in a timely manner.
According to most contracts, you must pay your balance upon installation.
However you do have a few days before you must pay.
If there are problems with your installation you must still pay your balance according to law.
But the dealer or contractor is obligated to attend to your problems.
In California a contractor must warranty his labor for one year after installation.
An exceptional dealer and contractor will not limit you to exactly one year though.
A dealer that really cares about his reputation will repair problems even after your year is up.
More often than not, a dealer will have to order the carpet that YOU CHOSE.
Most dealers keep a supply of low to mid-grade carpet in stock.
But since you did your homework and did not settle for anything less than what you wanted, it will most likely have to be ordered.
Expect to wait about two weeks to be scheduled for install.
Less than two weeks can often be accomplished but if you have to wait three weeks or more then this dealer is very busy and you may not get the quality job you should receive.
This is due to the fact that the installers are being pushed to get more done in a shorter time and this can affect the quality of their work.
Before installation takes place, be certain you know if you need to move your own furniture or if you need to pay extra for the installers to move it for you.
If you are moving your own furniture, make sure all furniture is out of the rooms to be installed and that there is a path for the installers to travel with materials and tools.
This will make the installers happy and you will get a better install.
If the installers are to move your furniture, you must still remove all knick-knacks, collectables, books, lamps, etc...
they will only move the large furnishings and not the small items.
Some dealers will work with you if you have a lot of furniture and you are installing new carpet throughout the whole house.
Often an install can be broken down into two days, allowing you time to move furniture from one side of the house to the other, or from room to room.
Be sure you work out these details before the install date, preferably at the time you make your contract with the dealer.
Inspect your carpet and pad before the installers begin their work.
Make certain it is the carpet and pad that you chose, but keep in mind that the carpet color may appear different due to two factors.
One, all carpet dye lots are slightly different and the exact color may vary ¼ shade from the sample you picked from.
Two, the new carpet is rolled tightly on the roll and is therefore the pile is crushed down, do not be alarmed, once the carpet is installed and vacuumed and trafficked it will darken up to the shade of color it is designed to be.
If you have any doubts, ask someone to bring the sample book you chose from to verify the quality of the carpet and roll back an edge of the carpet, fluff it well with your hands and compare it to the sample board.
As I said, slight variations in color are normal but the quality of the carpet should be the same as the sample.
During installation please allow the installers freedom to move in and out of your home.
Put the dogs and cats away, so that they will not be a nuisance.
Some installers don't mind you watching them work, others tend to get nervous if you hover over them and will tend to make mistakes.
As interesting as the install procedure is, please allow your installer to do his job without interruption and everyone will be happier.
If you really feel you must watch, ask the installer if it bothers him for you to watch and maintain a distance so that you do not get in the way.
Most installers are paid by the job and not by the hour, so if they can move about efficiently and swiftly, you will be happier with your install.
Don't expect miracles.
If there are issues with the level of your floors or the straightness of your walls, these are things that the installer has no control over.
However the test of a true professional installer is their capability to mask construction problems that are not his fault or problem.
For example: If he is installing a patterned carpet against a crooked wall, it is not up to him to straighten the wall.
But he can make a crooked wall seem less visible by stretching the carpet tighter in some areas than in others.
A professional installer can work wonders but only God can do Miracles.
This leads me to something very important.
ALL CARPETS MUST BE POWER-STRETCHED.
Do not let anyone convince you otherwise.
The manufacturer of the carpet will not warrant the carpet unless it has been power-stretched.
I have heard stories of installers convincing consumers that they can KICK the carpet just as tight as a power-stretcher, but this is simply not true.
A good and lasting install depends on the carpet having been power-stretched with a special tool made just for that purpose.
You can tell the difference between the knee-kicker and the power-stretcher.
The power-stretcher has a handle that must be pushed down on to stretch the carpet.
A knee-kicker is designed to move the carpet slightly and to set one side of the carpet before power-stretching it into place.
If your installer does not have a power-stretcher I would suggest that you stop the installation until he can go get one, even if it is inconvenient for you at the time.
If you want your carpet to last a long time, it must be power-stretched.
Otherwise your carpet will buckle later and wear twice as fast as it should.
Once the installation is complete, inspect your new floor for anything evident that the installer may have missed.
It is easier to have them repair it while they are there than to have them come back later.
After completion of installation, you are obligated to pay your balance.
If you will do this promptly, you will insure that the dealer will continue to treat you well long after the installation.
A dealer will always want you to be a repeat customer, but that does not mean they want you to have a bad installation so you have to come back sooner than later.
I have been in business long enough to have replaced carpet for customers two to three times over the past thirty years.
After all there is no carpet made that will not eventually wear out.
In closing, keep these things in mind as you make your next carpet purchase and you will be happy for many years to come.
Avoid common mistakes and you can avoid "Post-Carpet-Purchase-Depression.
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