What's the best way to go about getting new carpets fitted?

[Deleted User]

Heya 

We need new underlay and carpets installed on our stairs, landing and small upstairs hallway. The upstairs hallway also needs new floorboards.

The reason I'm asking is because I got some good advice when it came to doing our windows. I was shopping around the large companies like SafeStyle but many people here told me to find a local person and I paid a fraction of the price to what I was being quoted by the larger companies.

Curious if it was similar with carpets. Carpet Right told me they won't fit the new floorboards so I can get someone separate to do that. Should I buy the carpets from a place like Carpet Right then find someone to install it? Should I buy the carpet and underlay from somewhere else like Amazon? 

Any tips and tricks will be much appreciated. 

[Deleted User]

Hi,

stick to local, any problems you'll get a better service, probably need floor sorted first.

victor2

frugalmacdugal said:

Hi,

stick to local, any problems you'll get a better service, probably need floor sorted first.

I second the above.

We've always used a local company for supply and fitting of carpets. When our stairs and landing were done, the first carpet was an inch too narrow because they'd been out and measured incorrectly, without including one doorway. As they'd insisted on coming out and measuring, rather than taking my measurements, they admitted fault and ordered another carpet for us. All we had was the inconvenience of waiting a week with bare stairs and grippers still in place, for the 2nd carpet to come, as they'd already removed the old carpet before realising the new one was too small.

flashg67

Personally, I prefer to find a local company. I have found one near me who is reliable and value for money and have used many times now.

twopenny

Yes to local. 
Yes to getting them to measure and fit. 
3 times in my long life I've had a problem once with the carpet, 2 with the fitting but it was easy to just walk in and deal with the problem. It also didn't take long as they were nearby.
I have saved money by buying remnants - the shop will lay remnants for standard fitting price- but darn hard to find an independent fitter and harder to deal if a problem.
I always regretted laying a carpet without underlay to save money.
Fitting them myself was also not great even though I'm quite handy.

YoungBlueEyes

Another vote for local. 

We had carpets fitted the other month by a small-ish local firm. Himself sorted the floorboards first tho, that’s a separate job. 

See if you can save a few quid by looking through their offcuts - there might be what you want in a size they can trim down to fit for you.  

Don’t scrimp on underlay (a tip I got from here that was reiterated by the woman in the shop). You can get slightly cheaper carpet if you get good underlay. 

Lastly, make sure the quote includes them removing the trimmings and mess!

Ectophile

I always use a local company.  They use their own fitters.  Except for stairs, the price on the roll is the price you pay.  It looks expensive, but that price includes fitting, with new underlay and any gripper rods.

You will probably need to find someone else to do the floorboards, though.

benson1980

I've used both local, and carpetright- the latter when we really liked one of their 100% wool carpet designs and couldn't find the same style of carpet in the independents. Service I would say was comparable and they did interest free credit which was handy at the time. They rectified one mistake made with measuring and we got a new roll of carpet, without any fuss. I found them good, including the fitters they used, and value for money I would say was reasonable. Therefore I'd just have a look and go for a design (and quote) you are happy with. 

pmartin86

Personaly I'd treat it as 2 seperate jobs - If you're not confident of doing it yourself (What do you mean by "repalce flooreboards"? Why? Are the joists ok? any other structural work needed?) Find a decent handyman (builder/engineer if needed) and get the floor solid first, then once its done, go get carpet. Locals are usualy the best, but I've also had very good service from "Tapi Carpets" if you have one nearby.

[Deleted User]

pmartin86 said:

Personaly I'd treat it as 2 seperate jobs - If you're not confident of doing it yourself (What do you mean by "repalce flooreboards"? Why? Are the joists ok? any other structural work needed?) Find a decent handyman (builder/engineer if needed) and get the floor solid first, then once its done, go get carpet. Locals are usualy the best, but I've also had very good service from "Tapi Carpets" if you have one nearby.

We had loose floorboards and the handyman we hired to fix it only made things worst. Previous owners cut into the joist by an inch it two to place the central heating pipes on top. Laying new floorboards down, some areas are lacking space to drill screws in without hitting a pipe. Also, where the hallway meets a room, there's nothing for the end of the floorboard to screw into, meaning it essentially rest on top of the pipes. 

housebuyer143

Deleted_User said:

Heya 

We need new underlay and carpets installed on our stairs, landing and small upstairs hallway. The upstairs hallway also needs new floorboards.

The reason I'm asking is because I got some good advice when it came to doing our windows. I was shopping around the large companies like SafeStyle but many people here told me to find a local person and I paid a fraction of the price to what I was being quoted by the larger companies.

Curious if it was similar with carpets. Carpet Right told me they won't fit the new floorboards so I can get someone separate to do that. Should I buy the carpets from a place like Carpet Right then find someone to install it? Should I buy the carpet and underlay from somewhere else like Amazon? 

Any tips and tricks will be much appreciated. 

Local to me we have this huge carpet place that only sells it on rolls for about half the price of carpet right. Amazing! 
Then you get a local fitter. He changes £50 a room and is quick and accurate. I always recommend local when it comes to carpet fitting.