BS dictates what size of carpet + should be power stretched (manufactures etc are involved in writing the BS) However, manufactories install methods over ride BS. Some manufactures dont agree with the BS and actually think 5 meters is to large. So for instance , manufactories using action backed carpets say that 'every' carpet should be power stretched no matter what the size is. (would love to see someone power stretch a W.C) What ever happens it should really be power stretched. But like i said before, there is other methods of installing that can eliminate power stretching. As for charging more? well you will find that when word gets around that you installed correctly and become a very good installer you will automatically charge more and people will pay it. They want you to do the work as they know you are better than the person down the road. For example, you want your bedroom decorating, you get a good quality decorator in, if you want your garden fence painting you pay some joey. Would you have joey (the fence painter) decorate your house? Belive it or not there are plenty of customers who will pay for a high quality install. The more me educate the public with forums like this the more will understand the difference between you and the person down the road and WHY you charge more. You will be surprised that once you have a name for yourself how many customers will actually happily pay extra to have you install the flooring.
What other way would you say avoid power stretching then, stick down etc or just good kicker technique ? I suppose if I knew it were being done to manufacture standards I'd happily pay more. Does it void any guarantee not being fitted with a power stretcher ?
its hard to explain . basically you make the room into smaller rooms. So lets say we have a 5x5 room. you start a stretch in the middle and then stay tack carpet (can only be done on wooden subfloor) . You have now created two rooms that are 2.5 meter each. Like i say its hard to explain. Also with the time being added you would be better simply using a power stretcher. The other method is a way around it but only really used if there is a reason you cant power stretch for some reason. As for guaranty, well yes it can void guaranty. Lets say you have a carpet that is wearing poor. A manufacturer can check tension of the carpet. What people dont realise is that the better the tension the better a carpet will wear.
So you are saying the majority of carpets fitted in England do not conform to BS standards, lack tension and are wearing out faster because of not being power stretched.
I just can`t see it myself. O.k I don`t fit loads of carpet now, but I can kick out a through lounge, and get it tight. It`s very, very rare to get a re-stretch.
so can i ! But don't forget that a re-stretch means that the carpet was well under tension when fitted. Basically the day it was installed there was not enough tension. It is impossible on some carpets to get the correct tension without them ripping. The manufactures know this and these are the ones that say that every carpet needs power stretching. The carpet may lay flat without bubbles for 20 years, but if the tension is wrong the carpet will wear at a accelerated rate. Also the wrong vacuum makes a massive difference.
Mate, they could save you willy from dropping off. I heard that a chap got stuck out in Antarctic for weeks on end. He put the vacuum flask over his willy and it was saved from frost bite. His fingers etc was knackered. Good old vacuum flask. ..... thinking about it..... i wonder what happened to his testes ?
talking of power streching, was to do 2 bed rooms for a customer and the shop said "i would have a look at his lounge/dinning room" carpet as it had a wrinkel in it. Said carpet was fitted 4 years ago but the wrinkels only appeared 6 months ago (yea right). As it turned out the landing and hall also needed restreched (they were easly sorted).... the salesman said the man was to pay me...cont View attachment 3385 At first i didn't have the power strecher with me so employed the deadman method as matt described, all that did was move bump around and turned it into a cresent shape, i was able to cut of about 10mm but the bump remained. Next day armed with the p/s, tryied streching as 2 seperate rooms (removing about 5mm from the oppisite end as of the day before), then as one full strech right through. I was afraid the carpet would tear. while trying to work out what to do next the punter said "you do know that the shop is to pay you for this" I said they told me that he was to pay me, but he said that it was part of the agreement when he bought the bed room carpets, I was outta there within 20 min after a little bit of bumping the knee kicker here and there. Oh btw I was not the origional fitter
same as mine, well sort off. my tubes are aluminum but a one off. (basically lighter but no better) Would the chap allow you to set up your own collection by courier?
shows how out of date i am then! Still im sure wont be like mine as had mine made special LOL. (i had to drill my own holes )
