Nip Tuck Carpet Repair May 2016

Is It Worth It to Rent Carpet Repair Tools

In the Denver Metro Area there are many issues that you may have with your carpet. Do you have wrinkles in your carpet, a pet who chewed on or tore a hole in an area, or possibly some flood damage? To repair any of these yourself, you may need to take a trip to the store to either rent or buy some tools and supplies. But is this worth it?

Cost of Carpet Repair Tool Rental (Denver Metro Area)

Pricing on carpet repair tools can vary depending on where you go. If you shop around you can find a power stretcher for approximately $30-35/ day. For a toolbox with the carpet repair tools that you will need, it will run approximately $20/day. This total would run around $50/day. If you can fix your carpets in a day this may be a very viable option. For a smaller project (2-4 rooms stretched) it would cost $100-300 to hire a professional, so the savings to do it yourself may be worth it.

Is Carpet Repair Difficult?

The answer to this is really dependent on your construction background and factors that can make the job complex. If you have the ideal circumstances such as raised trim, typical latex carpet backing (not stiff), and a plush (not berber) carpet, then you may very well be able to manage the project. With that being said, you could run into issues that put this kind of project over your head. When it comes to seam work, it really depends on your expectations. Realistically if you want a seam that is nearly invisible, leave it to the professionals. QSeams really take a good skill set to accomplish. So in the end some carpet repair projects may be simple, but others not so much.

Conclusion

If you would like to accomplish that project yourself and save money, renting tools may be an option. It really depends on your skill set, difficulty of carpet repair project, your expectations, and your time. You can save $50-150 on a small project, so it may be worth it. Of course, if you want the best possible results, it’s advisable to call a professional in the Denver Metro Area.

By Nip Tuck 5-27-2016

CATEGORIES: Carpet Repair Tools

What to look for in a Carpet Repair Company

When you need carpet repair work done, there are several companies to choose from. Carpet cleaning companies, restoration companies, or a select few that specialize just in carpet repair could get the job done for you . What should you look for in a qualified business?

By Nip Tuck Carpet Repair 5-27-2016

CATEGORIES: Carpet Repair, Carpet Repair Tools

My Cat Keeps Urinating in the Same Spot

One of the most common issues that we run into as carpet repair technicians is pet damage. Sometimes the problem is a cat that keeps returning to urinate on the same spot of carpet time and time again. What the heck causes them to act this way? And what can be done to prevent it?

URINATING KITTY

You love Mr. Biggles and would never want to have to give him up over something such as potty issues. We understand that. Of course always thoroughly clean and disinfect the area affected. If any odor is left behind this will be the biggest cause for his return. Try to identify whether your cat is spraying (marking it's territory) or full on urinating in this favorite location of his. If you find that the cat is simply spraying (a little sprinkle) try to make it feel more secure in it'sterritory. In a multi-cat household the cat may feel the need to be possessive over these areas. It may help to provide separate living quarters for the felines.

LITTER BOX BLUES

Ask yourself if you have recently switched to a different litter, or changed the location of the litter box. These factors could contribute to your cat no longer wanting to use the litter box. If more than one cat is living together adding a litter box may help to prevent this issue. If he is an only child, perhaps trying out a new litter box will do the trick. Always make sure you regularly clean the box and change the litter as cats are clean animals by nature. If these attempts fail to work, you may want to try placing the litter box on top of the area he keeps returning to. After he gets in the habit of going in his litter box again, gradually over the next few days start moving it back to the location you would like the litter box to be.

IF ALL ELSE FAILS

If these pointers don't resolve things make an appointment to visit your veterinarian. You will want to make sure your cat doesn't have any medical conditions that would contribute his potty issues. The vet will be able to test for any urinary tract infections or kidney problems.

We understand that you don't want to have us come patch an area of carpet and pad just to have your cat piddle on it again after we leave. Try to figure out what can be done to prevent this before we come out. Just because kitty has stopped urinating in that spot doesn't mean you don't need to have the area patched. Frequent urination in one location will soak into the pad and can cause lasting odors, damage, and health problems.

By Nip Tuck Carpet Repair 5-27-2016

CATEGORIES: Cat urine

Double spike stretcher vs power stretcher pipes

There are two types of power stretchers that can be used for proper carpet stretching. One is called a “double spiked power stretcher”. This tool grips onto the subfloor to tighten the carpet. The second stretcher is a “pipe power stretcher”. This tool includes pipes that extend the length of a room and push off of a wall or pillars to tighten the carpet. There are pros and cons for each of these items. In this post we will examine the advantages and disadvantages of each stretcher.

Double Spike

Pros

1. Furniture: With a “double spike stretcher” we do not need to extend pipes from wall to wall. This results in furniture being less of an issue. We can often work around the furniture to stretch with this tool.
2. Speed: Without the need for moving furniture around, stretching with the double spike becomes much quicker.
3. Stretches Adequately: Unlike the commonly used knee kicker, this machine properly stretches the carpet.
4. No Walls: This tool grabs onto the subflooring underneath the carpet and uses this as leverage for the stretch. That means there is no need to worry about damaging a wall.

Cons

1. Although it is rare there is a possibility that the “double spike stretcher” leave a mark in the carpet. If it does, we always make sure to repair those areas.
2. Some installers have abused this tool in the past and this has caused voids on certain carpet warranties.
3. We cannot use a double spike with cement subflooring.

Power Stretcher Pipes

Pros

1. Still Does a Great Job Stretching: We always emphasize any type of stretcher over a knee kicker whenever possible.
2. No Carpet Punctures: Since this power stretcher uses the walls as leverage there is no risk of leaving puncture holes in your carpet.

Cons

1. Although rare, pipes have the possibility of pushing into unsupported walls or damaging trim. We cannot assume responsibility for damage to unsupported walls.
2. All furniture needs to be removed from the room due to needing access to the walls.
3. Setting up the pipes and moving around furniture is more time consuming then using the double spike stretcher.
4. Since this power stretcher needs to push directly off of a wall it cannot be used on stairs, rooms with odd angles, or against railings.

When it comes to stretching our technicians will choose the best method to meet your needs. Our goal is to get the job done efficiently without sacrificing the quality of the stretch. We back our work with a 5 year guarantee. This can leave you assured that whichever power stretcher we use, your carpet will be stretched properly and you will not have to worry about wrinkles in your future.

By Nip Tuck 5-27-2016

CATEGORIES: Double Strike, power stretcher pipes

Can you stretch carpet with furniture in the room

The good news is in most instances we can stretch a room with furniture present. There are some specific situations that pose more of a problem than others. How much furniture, the size and weight of the furniture, and the layout of the ripples all play a factor. Here are some scenarios to help you determine if your furniture will pose a problem or not:

The Process

When stretching a room, we typically will stretch away from doorway and to a wall parallel to the wrinkles. The power stretcher is forceful enough to pull carpet even with furniture of moderate weight in the room. Once the technician was chosen the wall to stretch towards he will pull up the carpet from the tackstrip against that wall, stretch the carpet, reattach it to the tackstrip and trim and tuck. Stretching in this manner ensures the carpet will remain tight in spite of foot traffic, cleanings, and other wear.

Moving the Furniture

As a general rule the room needs to be 50% void of furniture in order to stretch the carpets properly. We need to have enough open space in a room to slide furniture around to gain access to the wrinkles and the wall we are stretching to. A room jam packed with furniture causes this to be an impossible feat. Although we would be happy to remove excess furniture from a room if need be, there is typically an extra fee for those services. Any knick knacks or breakables should be removed from furniture and to a safe location as well as electronics should be unplugged. We do not want to risk breaking these items while attempting to maneuver around them.

Large Furniture

Big pieces of furniture such as heavy exercise equipment, larger fish tanks, and full size pool tables can be tricky to work with. Although the power stretcher can function with pieces like couches and beds, these heavier items may cause the carpet to rip when stretched. In those instances we are usually capable of partially stretching the room to avoid those furniture items. This would involve more work and at times a seam is necessary. We cannot always guarantee a partial stretch so we highly recommend removing these objects from the area beforehand if possible.

If you have concerns as to whether or not your furniture would be an issue, don’t hesitate to give us a call. Contact us today to get those problem wrinkles out!

By Nip Tuck 5-27-2016

CATEGORIES: Furniture

Is the Carpet Patch Visible

When your carpet needs to be patched due to pet damage, stains, etc. it may be a dilemma whether to patch it or not. How will the patch look? Will the patch stay over time especially with a carpet cleaning? Questions like these can make it difficult to decide whether to patch the carpet or just replace it.

How will the patch look?

There are many factors that weigh into the quality and look of a seam. The biggest factor is whether or not a piece of carpet from a closet or remnant piece will match. Due to sun fade and wear, the piece that is patched in may look newer then the original worn carpet. The best way to have an idea of what the results will be would be to take a remnant piece and set it next to the area that needs to be patched. Now of course, if you are willing to wait a few years for the patched portion of carpet to blend in with the original, this may not be as big of an issue.

As far as the seam work, the seam should be just slightly noticeable to invisible depending on the carpet. If you do see the seam because of the color difference, it could be likened to a tan line on your skin. Although there is no seam, there appears to be a line because of the color difference. In most cases, our seam work exceeds the customers expectations.

How much will a patch cost?

Pricing depends on how large the patch is. For a smaller patch you can plan on $40-60, whereas a larger patch can cost $100-200. If there are several patches, usually the cost per patch will decline.

Conclusion

Whether or not it is worth it to patch carpet or not depends on your circumstances and needs. How long you are willing to wait for a patch to blend in and what your expectations are will have a bearing on your decision. You can always play it safe and replace carpet, but repairing carpet is usually a much more cost-effective option.

By Nip Tuck 5-27-2016

CATEGORIES: Carpet Patch