subject: Tales From The Carpet Crypt [print this page] Whether one is staying in Seattle or Brooklyn, carpets are to ones feet as rain and yellow cabs to each location respectively. Homes sport this covering, often times wall to wall as some seek a balance of comfort with sound and thermal protection. If a timely need to change the shabby for a new coat arises, many a home owner is tempted to undertake the job as home projects achieve mainstream status. Seriously, how hard can it be to measure materials and lay them out to cover a flat surface? Hence, many find out the hard way on how joyous an experience it can be. Professional carpet installers also enjoy the spoils of rectification.
If there is one of those infamous idiot books for carpet installation, it will probably emphasize the need for accurate measurement. The foreword may even include a note of caution that all rooms are not created identical when it comes to individual dimensions. Whether it is due to lack of workmanship or slope of terrain within city limits of Brooklyn, carpet installation jobs take on a new plane when width and length depends on which corners of the room they are taken from. It therefore pays to take a few pairs of measurements to derive an average. As carpeting work is quite extensive, economies of scale recommend covering hidden areas which extend into walk-in closets and under furniture.
Based on simple math, one calculates the area of coverage. Utilizing factory dimensions, it is then further application of math to derive estimated amount needed. To avoid surprises commonly associated with running out of materials mid job, the rule of thumb is to include a certain percentage of excess. This takes care of wastage due to cutting and fitting for odd corners.
In the even the task sounds too high a mountain to overcome, the better alternative is to resort to a professional carpet installer. Do ensure the expert is worth his weight in salt, or carpet years, to avoid botch jobs.
