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Carpet Defects Complaints and Bad Carpet Install

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Carpet Defects, Complaints and Bad Carpet Installations? Here are some emails from homeowners with Carpet and Padding complaints and Carpet Installation problems. These homeowners bought new Carpet and ended up unhappy for various reasons. 

Carpet Sample Display at Lowe's similar to Home Depot Carpet Samples.

Carpet Sample Rack

In most of these cases, there was no warranty coverage for their complaints and no recourse. This is why it is important to learn how to choose new carpet wisely and buy from a reputable carpet dealer. Where to buy new carpet? See who I recommend near you!

Carpet Complaints and Carpet Installation Problems are Common!

Note: Many of these Carpet problems could have been avoided had the homeowners done their “Carpet Homework” before they purchased new carpet. Visit my Table of Contents to see all my free carpet articles.

Defective Carpet

  • I have had my carpet for 11 months. After 3 or 4 months I noticed different shades in the carpet. I bought the best carpet. I put in a complaint 4 months ago. The warranty means nothing. In the living room half is one shade and the other half darker. I have big dark spots other places and in the bedroom circles of very light color. It looks like some one spilled something and tried to clean it.

Polyester Carpet

  • At first our new carpet was beautiful, but it didn’t take me long to realize that I didn’t like to walk on it barefoot.  Also, it seemed to mat down very quickly.  We have high traffic areas and steps since our home is a split-level and the carpet really started looking “old” and “worn” within the first 6 months.  In a nutshell – I HATE this carpet! Carpet Fiber Choice vs Durability

Olefin Berber Carpet

Looped Berber Style

  • I had a looped Berber carpet installed just a couple of  years ago and already it looks dingy in the high traffic areas. I had it cleaned by Coit for the first time and now it seems to be worse not better. Is there anything I can do to make it look better?  I know that the carpet isn’t that worn as there are only 2 adults here and we work 5 days a week so not much wear but on weekends and evenings, and most of the time shoe-less. Is Berber Carpet a Good Choice?

Bad Carpet Install / Low Quality Carpet

  • Hi Alan, I hope you can help me out before I’m stuck with my builder trying to tell me my carpet is supposed to look the way it does. We are having a new home built after being in a hurricane. They laid the new carpet in three bedrooms. They all have ripples in them and one room has the worst ripples. Could you please tell me why that is so I don’t look stupid when I argue the point with the builder? We are closing in a couple of weeks. Carpet Fiber Choice vs Durability

Staple Fiber, Not a Continuous Filament

  • I recently had new carpeting installed. It is suppose to be nylon. The issue I have is every time I vacuum it I wind up with a ton of what I call carpet fluff in the vacuum. Is this typical? Or is this just cheap carpeting. Why Do Some Carpets Shed and Fuzz?

Bad Carpet Installation / Olefin Carpet

Berber Carpet Stain, Spot that doesn't come out.

  • The carpet we have was not installed correctly and we have rolls (wrinkles) and highly visible seams.  The carpet has been professionally cleaned, but the tech said that he was not able to remove the stains because the carpet was so badly rolling and loose.  It looked like he did a good job at first, but the stains reappeared after a short time. Carpet Fiber Choice vs Durability

Staple Fiber, Not a Continuous Filament

  • We have just moved into a new construction that has Mohawk Somerset installed. It’s been 45 days of hell. The rug sheds continuously. We have contacted the Mohawk rep and he said that this might continue for up to a year. Meanwhile we are sneezing, itching and inhaling these fibers into our system. We are very dissatisfied with this carpet and it is throughout our house. We have a two year old son who is always playing on the floor. It is causing some real problems for us. We have spoken with our neighbors who have the same carpet and they said the same thing. Why Do Some Carpets Shed and Fuzz?

Low Quality Carpet

  • I just had carpet installed a week ago. It is a textured cut pile manufactured from Camelot Carpet Mills.  I kept several extra pieces. One of the pieces had some water spilled on it and I noticed after an hour or so later that the primary and secondary backing had separated.  What does this mean? Carpet Specifications Explained

Improper Carpet Installation

Carpet Wrinkle

  • We purchased a Mohawk “soft back” carpet and within a year experienced tremendous rippling.  We had it re-stretched and a year later the rippling is back worse than ever. The manufacturer claims the installation is to blame rather than the carpet. Top 10 Causes for Carpet Wrinkles

Wrong Carpet Padding / Poor Carpet Installation

  • We have a new two year old home and we thought we got good carpeting and most of all a good depth of padding. They put in Stainmaster Carpet.  We have begun to have ‘ripples’ in the carpeting!  What in the world causes this? We are just two senior citizens living here and don’t have much company at all.  Where we first began to notice the ripples is in a room which is hardly used – other than to walk through, clean and sit to read a newspaper. Top 10 Causes for Carpet Wrinkles

Carpet Manufacturing Variance

  • I purchased a plush carpet for a living room, dining room, stairs and a hallway. My concern is the sample I based my decision on is different than the laid carpet. The laid carpet feels softer than the sample but it seems to show more foot traffic.

Polyester Carpet

  • Our home is 2 years old and is a spec house in which the builder used all cheap flooring, appliances, fixtures etc.  Most of our house has plush carpet that is stained, worn down and worn out. Carpet Fiber Choice vs Durability

Carpet Shading – Construction Defect

  • I recently had Mohawk carpet installed in my home.  This is the problem.  The insert piece in the living room and bedroom is a darker color than the main piece of carpet in each room which causes a stripe to appear down one side of each room.  I’m perplexed because I had this exact same carpet installed in my previous home with no problems.

Carpet Construction Defect

  • We recently had some carpet installed and the carpet seems to have several “lines” developing across the pattern. The installer and manufacturer and an “independent” analyst have all insisted this is a normal “defect” in the carpet. Is this normal? The lines look like someone took a child’s wagon and wheeled it up and down the hallway.

Common Trait of Commercial Carpets. Not a Defect.

  • I recently had an expensive, high quality synthetic carpet over a jute and hair mat installed in my bedroom by a large company that specializes in carpets and caters only to designers. Now, when I walk across the room, the rug “crunches” ((has a squeaking sound) The carpet on the stairs was installed by a second person, and does not have the crunching sound. What is the problem? (carpet too loose???) and how can it be corrected?

Chose The Wrong Carpet Padding

Prime Urethane Foam Pad

  • I just recently had brand new carpet installed and it is literally acting funny. When you walk on it it has a strange crunchy/squeaky feel to it under your feet. It is everywhere you walk and every one feels it. Any ideas what this is? Choosing The Right Carpet Padding

Carpet Defect / Low Quality

  • We had Mohawk Horizon carpet installed in our basement.  It has been stretched 2 times (including the initial installation).  One section in the middle of the basement is rippling again.  Could this be installation, carpet or some other issue?  The basement is dry, so it is not moisture.

Carpet Defect

  • I had Beaulieu Hollytex carpets installed and there was a problem with a side match.  They replaced it and still there was a problem with it.  The next time we changed the color and the pieces matched, but now we have a line like a cut down the middle. I blame the manufacturer or mill for not inspecting it better.

Defective Carpet

  • I have a dilemma with our master bedroom wool carpet from Glen Eden Mills. Shortly after having the carpet installed, I noticed a sort of shading appear just inside the bedroom doorway. After vacuuming and getting on my hands and knees to see what could be wrong. The fibers were going in different directions making a sort of water line well into the room.  After many calls and letters to Glen Eden, we received several articles on water marking or pooling from the manufacturer. None of us wanted to accept this bogus explanation, so I wrote a letter myself and asked that an independent carpet inspector come out and take a look.  They finally sent an inspector out and he agreed that the excuse seemed bogus, but that he had to report what he saw and that it was ” water marking”. Glen Eden chose not to do anything for us. We had the carpet less than 9 months when I started the investigation and we spent $4000.00 on one room of carpet!  (Not a huge room either.)  I then wrote another letter, this time to the president of Glen Eden, hoping to appeal to his caring side.  We have heard nothing in response and I imagine we never will.  It has been at least four months since I wrote. What do you know about water marking and is there anything else you can think of for me to do?

Carpet Construction and Manufacturing Variances

  • We have already purchased and installed an Evans Black, Carpet One carpet.  My husband and I don’t feel like it is the same one we chose – which I know now is a common scam.

Carpet Defect

  • We just had Nylon repeat-pattern carpet put in our family room. When you enter the room on the left as you view within 4 feet you see what I would think the carpet should look like but as your eyes move to the right it looks like someone has scattered sand across the carpet. It is something to do with the nap but I hate it. If you move to the right and look back then the pattern appears. Help ME!

Wrong Padding Choice

  • We are in the process of building a new home, and an option we chose was “Glacier Spill-Proof Carpet Padding”. Now that the carpet is in, when you walk around the house, it sounds like your walking on trash bags. Originally, I was told it was a defect in the padding where it was bunching up. They supposedly replaced the padding. Still does it. They have now supposedly “upgraded” it to the “BMW of spill-proof carpet pads”. Still does it. Now I am being told that again supposedly a rep from the factory came out, and deemed it a “characteristic” of the carpet pad due to the spill proof layer on top. Choosing The Right Carpet Padding

Chose Wrong Carpet Style / Olefin Berber Carpet

  • We purchased a soft Berber for our basement.  It is the newest Mohawk Smartstrand carpet. 3 days after it was installed, we noticed there was already a loop pulled.  Looks like 3 loops or more have already pulled up.   We also found 3-4 areas where the loop looks to be separated/broken on the top.  And, we found at least 2 areas where the top of a loop is separated but it appears almost to be tied.  So, at the top the loop is separated but something has it together at the very top, and then the two frayed ends are sticking out from there.
Looped Berber Pulls that are hard to repair.

Active kids and pets are often the cause of snags to Looped Berber Styles.

  • My dealer came out and said the pulled area must have been from something catching on it, perhaps our dog, child or a box, or almost anything.  Nothing they could do about that but repair it.  The other areas where the loop is separated, he said well, that can happen.  As for the loops that look tied, he said he has never seen that before. My question is:  did we just pick the wrong carpet for our basement???  Does three days to 1 week sound unreasonable to be having so many problems already?  And, what might our recourse be? Is Berber Carpet a Good Choice?

Bad Carpet Install / Improper Carpet Installation

  • We’ve lived in this rental home for 4 years, our carpet started wrinkling about a year after we moved in- the wrinkles were in carpet before I got it professionally cleaned. The carpet cleaner said the carpet was not installed properly. The property owner is saying the carpet cleaner ruined it, although wrinkles were there already.  I’ve spoken to others and were told that carpet was not stretched properly at installation and needs to be re-stretched.  Top 10 Causes for Carpet Wrinkles

 

Have Carpet Defects complaints and Bad Carpet Installations? This is why it is important to learn how to choose new carpet wisely and buy from a reputable carpet dealer. Where to buy new carpet? See who I recommend near you!

 

AbcCarpetpro.com Carpet Professor

 

 

Rebond Carpet Padding

How To Choose the Right Carpet Padding

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How To Choose the Right Carpet Padding? You must choose the correct Carpet Padding if you want your new Carpet to last as long as possible. Choosing the wrong Carpet Padding could cut the intended lifespan of your new carpet in half, and could void your new carpet warranty.

Rebond Carpet Padding – Current Prices

Here’s what homeowners need to know about choosing the correct type of pad, selecting the proper thickness and best density rating to match your new Carpet selection. Learn about Rebond Padding Cost.

Carpet Padding Types

Carpet Padding Basics Explained

Select your new Carpet, then select the padding that will match the grade of carpet you have chosen and the needs and goals you have set forth.

What does that mean? You don’t want your pad to wear out faster than your carpet. There are many different types of padding available today in order to accommodate all the various carpet grades, types and styles.

There are various types of pad that you will encounter when shopping for new carpeting for your home, but first you need to know a few things about what makes one padding better than another.

 

Padding quality and suitability is always determined by three main factors.

1. Type of Material
2. Density / Weight
3. Thickness

The Carpet Manufacturer decides what padding is required for every carpet they make. A certain type, thickness and density of padding is specified by the carpet manufacturer.

When choosing the right carpet pad, it must be capable of properly supporting your new carpet in order to maintain the new carpet warranty. You can call the carpet manufacturer to find out what padding specifications are required for the carpet you select.

It is your sole responsibility to make sure the right carpet padding is selected. Don’t assume the carpet salesperson knows what pad is required for carpet selection and application.

Carpet Padding Prices

Rebond Type (Residential)

This Price Chart is for Standard Rebond Type Foam Carpet Pad Only, Not for Moisture Barrier, Memory Foam or Other Types of Padding. (Cash and Carry Prices Shown)

Rebond Padding Prices

(Click to View Full Size pdf)

 

Carpet Padding Thickness Explained

For most residential plush style carpets, a 7/16″ padding thickness is most common. Berber styles require a thinner padding. Usually 1/4″ to 3/8″. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that a thicker pad is a better pad. If you chose a padding that is too thick it can cause wrinkles to develop in your new carpet more quickly. If so, then you will void your new carpet warranty.

For most homes, 7/16″ is the thickest padding you should select to keep your new carpet warranty in force. That said, 1/2″ thick padding is still a common choice and widely available from most carpet retailers. Read the manufacturers warranty or call the carpet mill to verify what pad they recommend you use. Here is my List of Carpet Manufacturer Websites and Phone Numbers.

A Thicker Pad Feels Softer Underfoot

I don’t recommend installing a thicker padding unless you understand the possible consequences. Using a thicker pad will increase the chance of developing wrinkles over time and will instantly void your new carpet warranty.

Some folks choose a thicker pad for their bedrooms to make the carpet feel softer underfoot. Many choose a 9/16″, 5/8″, 3/4″  or even a 1″ thick pad.

However, thicker pad is getting harder to find these days. Instead, you can opt to have your carpet installer glue together two layers of pad to obtain the same result.

Your tackless strips may need to be doubled up to adjust for the increased height. That will add some additional labor cost.

Using a thicker padding can be an enjoyable addition to your bedroom.

While you may get away with using a thicker pad in bedrooms with very low foot traffic, using a thicker pad in other areas like stairs, hallways,  living rooms and family rooms would not be a good idea.

In areas with higher foot traffic, using a thicker padding would cause your new carpet to quickly develop ripples, waves and wrinkles.

It will cost you more to use a thicker pad

  • Extra Padding Cost
  • Additional Installation Charges.

Low-Profile Padding with Higher Density Rating Increases Carpet Durability.

Looped Berber carpet styles and commercial grade carpets tend to be more prone to wrinkling and therefore require a special low-profile, high density  padding. Usually a maximum of 1/4″ to 3/8″ thickness, and a density rating of 10 to 12 pounds.

If in doubt, you can always call the carpet manufacturer to get the correct padding requirements needed to keep from voiding your new carpet warranty.

How To Choose the Right Carpet Padding?

Padding Density Explained

Padding quality is also determined by its Density Rating. Some pads have a low density rating of 3 to 4 pounds and is typically used in apartments and rental properties because it is less expensive and landlords know it will need to be replaced more frequently.

Padding for residential applications usually have a density rating of 6 to 8 pounds, but 10-pound density is also available and gaining in popularity.

Some folks prefer the 6-pound density padding because it is slightly softer underfoot. However, an 8-pound padding provides better support for your carpet.

A higher density rating generally make a carpet more resistant to wear and tear and abrasion. This is especially true in high traffic areas like stairs and hallways. I recommend using 8-pound density for most residential applications.

 

Some padding types are rated in ounces instead of pounds.

Pads made of foam are rated in pounds. The most common foam padding density for residential homes is 6-pound density. An 8-pound pad is heavier and therefore more dense. More and more carpet makers are requiring 8-pound pads as a warranty requirement because it provides better support.

Prime Urethane Foam Pad

Wool, Felt, Synthetic Fiber and Rubber Pads are weighed in ounces. For example, a pad of 128-ounce weight is the equivalent of an 8-pound pad. A 192-ounce pad is equal to 12-pound density.

What Homeowners Need To Know About Choosing the Right Carpet Pad

  • The higher the density rating, the more costly the padding will be.
  • Do not rely on the carpet salesperson to choose the correct pad for you, it is your responsibility to make sure the correct type of pad is selected and installed.
  • If the wrong type, thickness or density is selected, your carpet may develop wrinkles over time and your new carpet warranty may be voided.
  • If unsure, call the carpet manufacturer to see what Padding Specifications are required for the carpet you have selected.
  • Take my free Carpet Foot-Traffic Test to help determine the grade of carpet you need to install in your home.
  • Rebond Carpet Padding Prices

Beware of Unnecessary Padding Upgrades

It’s real easy to pay too much for pad, especially if you follow bad advice from an inexperienced carpet salesperson. There are many types of padding available but choosing the right pad can be challenging. Don’t blindly agree to any padding upgrade until you have a chance to do your padding homework!

You Probably Don’t Need a Specialty Pad

Don’t be swayed by a carpet salesperson who says you need to spend more for a pad that has a moisture barrier. Chances are good that you do not need a moisture barrier pad. In fact, moisture barrier pads can help cause mold and mildew to form underneath your padding. If your basement has moisture problems, a moisture barrier pad is the wrong pad for you.

You also don’t need the pad that has baking soda infused to help eliminate pet odors. The cost is high and the benefit is low. Even the box of baking soda you have placed in the back of your refrigerator needs to be replaced once a month. How long do you think the baking soda infused inside a 1/2″ thick pad will remain effective? Not long enough to make it a worthwhile padding upgrade I bet.

What about Padding That Will Extend Your New Carpet Warranty?

Carpet makers like Shaw and Mohawk now offer a special branded padding that if you buy it, they will increase the length of your New Carpet Warranty by up to 10 years.

I think the increase in carpet warranty length is just a slick marketing ploy to get you to spend more on a padding that you can surely do without. Sure, it’s a good quality pad, but it’s way overpriced.

Seasoned Carpet professionals are painfully aware that New Carpet Warranties are not worth the paper they are written on, and the fact is, a longer warranty will rarely end up beneficial to you.

It practically takes an act of congress to substantiate a valid new carpet warranty claim and even if you do, they only cover affected areas and pro rate your replacement credit based on the age of your carpet.

Specialty pads will certainly cost you more today but from my perspective they provide little to no measurable benefits to you in the long run. Frankly, I believe they are a total waste of your hard earned money.

Read more about Carpet Padding Specifications.

 

More about Carpet Padding:

 

AbcCarpetPro.com Carpet Professor