Carpet Fitter

Whistling_Gypsy

Finally at the stage of looking at carpets after a three year renovation. I have already bought decent quality underlay/gripper etc. Having done a little research, I would like to buy decent quality carpets online from a well recommended site. Thought the best way to go about it - decide on carpet - find fitter - get him to measure - order carpet - carpet fitted.

Can I find a local carpet fitter for love or money?? I am in East Yorkshire/Hull area and have looked online, in the yellow/white pages, local newspapers, in shop windows, asked around at work (large office). Nothing.

I have no problem buying from a local carpet retailer - his quote for fitting carpet only is a reasonable £2.25 m2. But then there's the underlay/grippers etc. Delivery charges and mileage for his fitters ( job will have to be done over 2 days). And a difference in price of about 35% between online and his prices for the same carpet. I appreciate overheads etc - but this could add up to about £500 more....

Any ideas where else to find a fitter? Any local fitters out there? Are they a dying breed?

TIA

-taff

over 2 days?
a good carpet layer can do a room in 20 minutes.
I was chatting to someone in work who had their living room, stairs, landing and 2 bedroom done in an hour and a half.

yellow pages, online traders, ask people who have had carpet laid recently

Whistling_Gypsy

2 days because I will probably have to move all furniture from 4 rooms myself....no chance of moving it all before he comes and putting back when he goes cos there's nowhere for it all to go! So I was thinking two separate visits rather than 2 full days.

Have tried googling local fitters, and in the local version of yellow pages.

Asked round work - three people have had carpets laid of about 20 I asked and 2 used Carpetright/equivalent and one a local retailer.

Thanks though :-)

ontrack

Don't think one man could do a decent job of that in an hour and a half.
Remember if you buy on line you will have to sort out the delivery from your door to wherever you are having it fitted, carpets are heavy!!
Why not get your online price and have a chat to the local carpet shop and see if they can come close to these prices, you may be surprised and you would be doing a bit for your local economy as well.
Most fitters would want at least their expenses for coming out to measure up and why shouldn't they! Remember though there is no incentive for them to be economical with the carpet, they will ask for as many square meters as they can ( that way they will not have to do too much planning and will get paid more to boot!)
A reputable carpet shop should be able to plan to cut down wastage and give you a fair price.
Don't be tempted to try to get the room measured and get the plan for free. The shop will be wise to that and will have ways of dealing with it which may cost you!
You have been warned!

-taff

Trust me, he did My friend was saying as fast as he could make him a cup of tea, he'd finished the room....

And they can work around big furniture, they did around the sofa and chairs last week. There were 2 of them though, from carpetright, and did everything, the grippers, underlay and carpet.

cyclonebri1

It's a commonly asked question on here and one that usually draws the same answer, ie, don't separate out the labour from the supply, it is false economy and highly risky.

If your fitter cocksup, who pays?? ok he could be self employed or he might just be working on the fly without insurance.