How To Choose New Flooring Like A Pro!
List of Preferred Local Flooring Stores
(Free Information by Consumer Advocate - No Flooring Sales)
Where To Find Qualified Carpet Installers
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 qualified carpet installers has increased significantly over the past decade. Installation costs have also increased across the board due to increased fuel cost, material price increases and supply chain issues combined.
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 a qualified
carpet installer is becoming more difficult every day.
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 easiest and safest way to go for homeowners.
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 everything, the Carpet, the Padding and the Installation - you bypass the need for you to locate, verify, negotiate, schedule and finally pay for an independent carpet installer.
Weekend Work?
Carpet retailers keep their in-house installers on a tight schedule. Their crews are booked up well in advance with the store's jobs Monday thru Friday. What about hiring them to work on a Saturday or Sunday you ask? Asking a retail store's installer to do a side-job for you on the weekend is asking for trouble. The list of problems you might encounter is long, but one thing to consider is that some installation jobs take longer than expected due to unforeseen circumstances. The last thing you want is for the installer to encounter a problem and not be able to finish installing your new carpet until the following weekend or beyond.
You can call around to see if a local carpet store has any 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.
Guaranteed Carpet Installation
When you buy new carpet from a reputable flooring dealer, the greatest benefit for you is that they guarantee everything you purchase including the installation. That means if you ever have a problem or concern about anything, even an installation problem, they stand ready and willing to answer your call and promptly do whatever it takes to make sure all your concerns are addressed. One call does it all. That's what being reputable means.
You don't get this wonderful benefit when you hire an independent carpet installer. Independent is they key word here, these installers are not attached to any retailer or physical 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 even if your best friend highly recommends someone you still need to ask these Ten Questions. Every installation job is unique and just because your friend had a good experience with this installer it doesn't automatically mean you will too.
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 tend to take pride in their work and like to present themselves in a professional manor. Here are 10 things to think about during your search for a suitable installer.
1. They don't promptly 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 children or pets to the jobsite or interview.
9. They act strangely, are unorganized or ill-prepared.
10. They ask to be paid in cash upfront or 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 apartment or property management work.
Determine what level of expertise your job requires and then hire an installer with a similar level of expertise. If you are installing inexpensive carpet in one or two rooms, you probably don't need to hire the best installer in town. However, you might want to hire the best of the best if you are buying super-expensive carpet, need custom upholstery work, are doing a fully-wrapped staircase with spindles, have a difficult pattern match or have a large and challenging layout. 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?
CFI - Professional Training and Certification for 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 should visit their website to try to locate a qualified carpet installer near you. They have a searchable database of certified installers nationwide. Find a CFI Certified Installer Near You
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:
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Choosing Berber Carpet Wisely - Why Berber Carpeting?
