Welcome to the first ‘instalment’ of a new series titled “Your roadmap to installation”. In this series we will look at demystifying the process of selecting your flooring, and understanding the steps right from product selection through to installation.
Understanding your needs
The experts at any Flooring Design store nationwide are adept at helping you make a selection suiting your lifestyle and home. Before looking at different carpets in any of our showrooms, it is important to understand what implications your lifestyle and home layout may have on different types of carpet.
For example: If you have indoor/outdoor pets that love to get muddy (or toddlers like mine that do the same), you may find that thick chunky textured wool carpets may not suit your lifestyle as they can be more difficult to clean than cut pile synthetic carpets.
Here are some questions to consider before choosing carpet:
- Do I have highly energetic pets?
- Do I have young children?
- How much time do I have for carpet care and maintenance?
- How much sunlight will the carpeted areas receive?
- Do I frequently reorganise my furniture in the carpeted rooms?
- Do I entertain many guests in the carpeted rooms?
One that doesn’t often get thought of is: “How straight are the walls in my home?”. I’ve heard of horrifying stories from customers who have shared stories of installations in the past where they have installed a beautiful textured/sisal carpet down a hallway, only to find out the walls aren’t square, and the lines along the textures of the carpet suddenly point that fact out!
Once you understand your home and lifestyle, our experts in-store will be able to help you understand the characteristics of each fibre/texture/colour which will suit you best. It’s our job to make sure you’re satisfied with the product which will be the centre talking-point of your home decor for the next 10+ years!
Selecting carpet options
Flooring Design showrooms have a wide array of carpets available not only for browsing, but are well-stocked with take-home samples.
Once our flooring experts have understood your lifestyle and home layout, they will suggest a variety of carpet options that may suit you. Of course, the decision is always yours to make, but our experts will help you to understand how each carpet type may suit your requirements.
Each carpet product comes with a wide variety of colours within the range. Some complex carpet designs may have a smaller range of colours available, while others can contain up to 12 variations.
Not only this, but some ranges have multiple weights available with the same colour ranges. For example:
Cable Bay, Okiwi Bay, and Ruby Bay all share colours, fibre type, and are distinguishable by their weight.
One thing we will always stress before making a choice is to test the carpet in your own home. You will be amazed at how different a carpet sample can look when placed next to different walls or furniture.
When you’re ready to take some samples home, we’ll take some details down and book you in for a free measure and quote.
In-home measure
By now you’ll have had a chance to test the samples in your home. If you’ve found they weren’t quite the right colour, either pop back into the store or give us a call. Our estimator can bring alternate colours with them when they arrive on-site.
First, our estimator will do a walkthrough with you to identify which rooms need new carpet. They’ll identify natural light sources and entrance points in those rooms.
Once they’re content they understand the layout of your home, the estimator measures the rooms and draws up a plan.
Room dimensions, light sources, and entrance points all play a significant role in determining install direction and meterage needed. These are all noted down on the plan before the estimator leaves your home.
If you’ve made your decision on the carpet, the estimator will take the samples back with him to the showroom. Otherwise, you’ll need to drop them back to the showroom and inform the staff so you can receive your quote.
Quantify and quote
Once back at the office, our estimators spend time pouring over the plan. They’ll look at the light sources, entrance points, room layout and dimensions and other factors, determining several factors of the job.
- Lay direction of product
- Positioning of joins (if any)
- Ability to save meterage by hiding additional joins under fixed furniture
Once all of these are determined, the estimator will be able to quantify the exact meterage needed for the install. They pass this information along (including any floor preparation needed) to the salesperson, who will provide you with a quote.
Product ordered and install booked
Once the quote has been accepted and a deposit paid, the staff will custom order your products. Alternatively, if the carpet is stocked in the warehouse, it will be allocated to your project.
Our teams will book a time for installation that suits your busy schedule. Before this date arrives they’ll consult with the installer and familiarise them with the details of the job.
The staff at this point will have communicated with you about how to prepare for installation day.
Installation
Our expert installers will arrive on-site at your home at the specified time, ready for a hard day of installing your new carpet. They’ll replace any smoothedge that needs to be replaced, and clear away the old floor coverings and underlay.
After the smoothedge is all checked as sufficient, the new underlay is installed. Your new carpet is placed over top and stretched over the smoothedge ensuring a beautiful finish. Where carpet meets hard flooring, different transition bars are installed depending on the hard flooring category.
Insider tip: A cup of tea goes a long way for a thirsty installer doing their absolute best for your home!
Once the installation is complete, the installer will check over their handiwork ensuring absolute quality. They’ll notify the shop that the project is complete, and leave you to enjoy your beautiful new carpet floors!
With your new carpet expertly installed, your home has a fresh, inviting look that’s ready to be enjoyed for years to come. At Flooring Design, our commitment doesn’t end with installation—we’re always here to offer advice on care and maintenance so your carpet stays as beautiful as the day it was installed. Our team is proud to have guided you through this journey, from selection to installation, ensuring every step was simple and stress-free. Now, it’s time to relax and enjoy your new space. We look forward to helping you create more beautiful spaces in the future!
To start your own journey with Flooring Design, contact your local store to request a free measure and quote.
