carpet fitting issues

soontobemrsg

I've recently had a new carpet fitted and I'm not happy with the pattern match up they've done.

Basically I was assured that the pattern would match on the stairs or I'd have gone for a plain carpet and basically it doesn't.

I've contacted the shop who now say that you can't match it on the stairs but they promised before I bought that you could.

The finish has really upset me, and has spoilt the overall finish. The rest of the work is fantastic and I have no complaints except that they've left all the waste behind (5 bags and 3 inner tubes).

What are my rights? I paid some with my debit card but the majority in cash. My concern is only on 3 of the steps. I have the manager coming tomorrow to have a look but he's said based on the photos I've showed him that it's right. Everyone I have shown has said how wrong it looks

beeg0d

You say only 3 steps so im assuming you talking about "winders" (3 triangular steps that turn (usually) 90 degrees). If that is the case then Yes the manager is correct you clearly CANT pattern match those as they turn a corner at different angles. What the fitter should have done though is line the pattern in the CENTRE of the steps so you would get a match dead centre with the pattern running out the further from the centre you look.

Im a carpet fitter with 18 years experience. could you please include the pictures you have taken?

soontobemrsg

Thanks for the response. Here's the photo and yes it is on the winders....I realise that the match was never going to be perfect but what I have now is not what he explained to me before buying or I'd have gone for a plain carpet. I ordered this carpet on their assurance of how nice it would look and to me it's just not what was described.

unholyangel

soontobemrsg wrote: »

Thanks for the response. Here's the photo and yes it is on the winders....I realise that the match was never going to be perfect but what I have now is not what he explained to me before buying or I'd have gone for a plain carpet. I ordered this carpet on their assurance of how nice it would look and to me it's just not what was described.

I'm not a carpet fitter but.....shouldnt the almost white-ish stripe be over to the right on the bottom three as it is with the rest? its like its been reversed.

Of course probably wouldve resulted in quite a bit of excess being needed.

greatgimpo

Not they haven't been reversed, step 3 should be to the right a foot, step 2 should be to the right maybe 6 inches, step 1 is about right. All this was to save carpet waste.

soontobemrsg

greatgimpo wrote: »

Not they haven't been reversed, step 3 should be to the right a foot, step 2 should be to the right maybe 6 inches, step 1 is about right. All this was to save carpet waste.

I can't see that it was to save waste as they measured dependent on this carpet and I have 5 black sacks worth of waste. I really am of the opinion that they cut it wrong and are trying to disguise the fact by telling me it can't match any other way?

If it was a little out I wouldn't be complaining...but to me there is no way that this can be considered right?

Can I demand that they fix the bottom 3 steps? What are my rights if they refuse?

beeg0d

Yup they have done the winders wrong, if it were me i would have made sure that thin white line in the middle of the straight matched through. Of cause the further from that line the less of a match you would get but it would at least look right.

Fortunatly the winders are at the end of the run. so it should bee easy enough to replace those 3 steps without much upheaval. On the plus side the fitter has at least fitted the pile direction correctly (major annoyance of mine when a fitter runs the pile on the 1st winder to match the straights rather then running over the nose).

Personally i always recommend AGAINST striped carpet on anything other that straight stairs as issues like this always accur. Though officially (as long as the pattern is lined in the centre) a match is possible and acceptable.

I would deffenatly recommend when the store manager comes to request him to replace the last 3 steps as they line as i said above, DONT demand the whole lot bee replaced (as theres nothing wrong with them). If you brought from who i think you did (judging by that particular pattern) you shouldn't have any problems but bee quick that looks like a particular carpet that is being discontinued.

just to add, leaving the rubbish is quite normal unless you chose to pay extra for disposal (which really isnt worth it as its easy take the rubbish to your local tip for free where as a carpet fitter would have to pay quite a lot to do the same). and yes getting a match would take a lot of carpet as these striped carpets tend to have a repeat of 0.6-1.5 meters meaning you have to add that onto the net sizes for each bit, example those 3 steps on a plane carpet would take 0.8 x 4m of carpet. to get the match would require just short of 2x4.

unholyangel

greatgimpo wrote: »

Not they haven't been reversed, step 3 should be to the right a foot, step 2 should be to the right maybe 6 inches, step 1 is about right. All this was to save carpet waste.

I realise that :P I just meant it looks like its been reversed because its so far off.

neilmcl

IMHO, that looks terrible and I wouldn't have paid them until they did those steps again. Did you have much carpet left over?

soontobemrsg

Huge thanks for the advice. I was convinced it was wrong and should at least appear to line up in an acceptable way...Even after a few glasses of wine it still looks wrong!!!

The carpet wasn't from the chain you are thinking of but a small family retailer. I have however seen it in a chain store but went with the smaller family store as I was advised that they have the best fitters. ARGH

It was fitted on Friday and I went straight there Saturday morning, the fitters called back Saturday and said it was right and the manager said from the photos it was right but would call by on Monday to explain to me why it was right.

In fairness the rest of the work is fantastic but they did leave all their waste which my local authority won't take which means I've also incurred the petrol costs of a trip to the tip too.

I would NEVER have had striped carpets on the stairs had they not assured me how well it would look.

soontobemrsg

neilmcl wrote: »

IMHO, that looks terrible and I wouldn't have paid them until they did those steps again. Did you have much carpet left over?

I'd paid upfront...5 black bags of waste. The worst thing is they are telling me it's right!