Call Now
303-898-9925
Your Meticulous, Professional and Reliable Cleaners

BLOG

By Elite Carpet Cleaning 5-30-2013

Consumer Guide to Carpet Repair in Denver Part 2

Runs in Berber carpet, fraying, burn marks, bleach stains and pet damage, all these carpet problems can be repaired saving the average Denver consumer thousands of dollars over replacement costs.

In Part 1 of the “Consumers Guide to Carpet Repair in Denver” the importance of re-stretching to remove bubbles, wrinkles and buckles was addressed. Part 2 of the “Consumers Guide to Carpet Repair in Denver” will focus on repairing other common carpet problems. And as in Part 1, included with each repair in this report will be the 1 to 5 scale on how disruptive will this carpet repair be to my home and how much time will it take.

Repairing runs in Berber Carpet

Pulled rows in Berber carpet can be a tripping hazard and a playful temptation for our pets. Cutting off the snagged fiber leaves an ugly bald spot and will lead to more fraying as the carpet is walked upon. We use detailed repair methods to mend the damage and prevent future running or fraying. Using specialized techniques, a small donor piece will be removed from a closet (this will NOT result in a bare spot in the closet. A small piece will be trimmed from the edge, then the closet carpet will be re-stretched and properly fitted back into its original place). As demonstrated in the pictures below, the donor piece will then be used to repair the snag. This method of repair keeps home life disruption minimal (disruption level 1) requiring, on average, 1 to 2 hours.

SAD Spots (Small Area of Distortion)

SAD spots include burn marks, bleach stains, some small pet stains, and food spills (such as mustard and sports drinks) that have permanently damaged, stained or dyed the carpet fibers. Repairing this type of carpet damage requires a donor piece which then be used to create a bonded insert. Some who offer carpet repair in Denver refer to this as a patch. A patch, however, is something moms in the 1960’s did to kid’s jeans in order to cover a hole. It’s true this was a practical solution to the problem of the hole in the jeans, but the patch was visible from a block away and kids in general had trouble seeing this from mom’s point of view. Just as we no longer wear patched jeans, carpet repair techniques in Denver have passed the era of carpet patching. Patches are often as unsightly as the holes they cover. We do not patch carpet. We offer bonded inserts. Unlike the patches you remember that do not match the original material in color, protrude above the surface to which they are attached, and are obviously seamed around all sides, bonded inserts are virtually invisible.

  1. Bonded inserts are the same height, shape, color and pattern of the original carpet.
  2. Bonded inserts are stronger than the original material.
  3. Bonded inserts will permanently stop fraying and unraveling.

Bonded Insert Used to Repair Mustard Stain

Bonded inserts can be done with minimal disruption (level 1) to the home.

Depending on size, this repair can be done in 1 to 2 hours.

Re-Tufting Carpet to Repair Small Burns

Re-tuft is just as it sounds; it’s the act of replacing individual damaged tufts. A donor piece is used to obtain replacement carpet tufts, which are then glued into the carpet backing. The tufts are held in place as securely as in the original manufacturing process, and the repair is completely undetectable.

Re-tufting can be done with minimal disruption (level 1) to the home.
The repair will be complete in 1 to 2 hours.

In every case, from the quick and simple to the major repairs, we never lose focus on the fact that this is your home. We will take the time to fully explain the problem, the options available, and fully answer your questions. We appreciate the value you place on quality of life here in Denver, and we will perform your carpet repairs in the manner that you choose.

We hope we have answered some of your questions about how runs and small damaged areas in your carpet should be taken care of. Since carpeting in the home is the third-largest investment most homeowners will make, knowing how to take care of it is an important safeguard for your investment.

Future blogs will feature tips and information about other types of carpet damage and what repairs are available to our neighbors in Denver.

By Elite Carpet Cleaning 5-24-2013

Carpet Stretching in Denver Part 2 Carpet Stretching and Seams

How is carpet stretching related to seam issues? While carpet stretching will solve problems in your carpet like wrinkling and bubbling, it can also showcase some other issues that your carpet may be hiding.

As we talked about in our Carpet Stretching in Denver Part 1 blog a proper stretch in your carpet is vital.

  • It will add years of use to your carpet
  • Removes trip and fall hazard from your home
  • Prevents delamination of the carpet which usually requires replacement

What other kind of issues will carpet stretching reveal in my carpet?

The most common issue that becomes visible after carpet stretching is poorly built seams. Actually seam problems are the number one complaint follow any carpet instillation. This problem is magnified after stretching a carpet that was poorly installed. It makes sense if you think about it, if they didn’t bother to stretch in the carpet do you think they took the time to create quality seams?

Keep an eye out for bubbles on the seam, or fraying edged along a seam. These are indications that the install of the seam was done in a hurry or wrong, and needs to be addressed.

Should I skip having my carpet stretching to avoid exposing bad seams?

Not if you want it to last. This is where hiring a properly trained carpet repair technician will save you time, money and headaches. A qualified technician will be able to identify if the seams will be an issue or not. The proper way to fix this issue is to first replace the weak seams. This involves removing the old tape, sealing the carpet edges and applying new seam tape and glue. After the glue has set up the carpet may be stretched. The replaced seams will be strong enough to handle being stretched while being harder to see. It may take a little more time to do, but your carpet will be installed better and wear better then when it was brand new.

CATEGORIES: Carpet Cleaning

By Elite Carpet Cleaning 5-8-2013

Denver Area Consumer Guide to Carpet Cleaning Part 2

We’ve all been there. We have a need. We have the means to purchase the service. But in this country, where the service industry offers the greatest opportunity for employment, we can’t find anyone who has an interest in providing the service we need. Instead, we hear horror stories of shoddy work, bad attitudes, property damage, dishonest business practices, hidden charges, outright theft, and worse.

When you’re ready to purchase carpet cleaning in Denver, you deserve to be treated well, be fully informed about the service you will receive, and know the entire cost before the work begins. Most of all, you deserve to be comfortable with the entire process from start to finish, and receive the best cleaning results possible from people who sincerely care about you and your home.

How can you receive this type of service? Knowledge is power. Knowing the right questions to ask and the true meaning of the answers you are given will help you make an informed decision about the carpet cleaning service you are considering in Denver. Here are two examples of questions that may help you in your search.

1) Are you an IICRC certified company, and is the technician you are sending to my home IICRC trained and certified?

Initiative is admirable, and we certainly commend those with the desire to shoulder the responsibility to own and run their own business. At the same time, a service provider has a responsibility to equip himself with not only the proper tools, but also the proper knowledge to provide the best and safest service possible. The IICRC, (Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration) provides extensive training and certification to carpet cleaning technicians in services from carpet and upholstery cleaning, carpet repair and stretching, to water damage restoration and odor control. To obtain the best carpet cleaning in Denver, choose someone who has taken the initiative, and invested time and money, to receive this training. Anyone can purchase and operate a machine, but the person who is interested in doing the best work possible learns as much about his trade as he can.

2) What cleaning method do you use?

Carpet manufacturers’ warranties require hot water extraction! Bonnet and rotary carpet cleaning systems are becoming wildly popular among companies providing carpet cleaning in Denver. This is due mostly to the convenience they offer the owner/operator, but this is not always an advantage to the homeowner. A major and respected carpet manufacturer, Shaw®, provides an instructional brochure to inform purchasers of residential carpet about requirements for maintaining the manufacturer’s warranty. On page ten, customers are informed that only hot water extraction utilizing carpet cleaning products, equipment, and systems certified through the Carpet and Rug Institute’s Seal of Approval Program are recommended for Shaw® carpets. Further, this brochure advises customers that the warranty requires professional service performed by an IICRC certified firm. The warranty also requires carpet owners to provide a maintenance record to prove compliance with these requirements. Wouldn’t the manufacturer of your carpet, a company dependent on customer satisfaction, be the best judge of what is the safest and most effective way to clean your carpet? You can receive professional carpet cleaning in Denver from a company that meets all these requirements if you remember to ask.

Time and effort are required to thoroughly extract the dirty water from your carpet. When dirty water is left in your carpet, dirt is left too! (You can test the quality of the cleaning you are receiving by rubbing your freshly cleaned carpet with a clean white cloth. If the cloth is clean, your carpet is being thoroughly rinsed. If the cloth is dirty, so is your carpet.)

Many spots in your carpet will require agitation with cleaning agents to be completely loosened from the fibers and removed. Hot water extraction systems rely on manual agitation by the cleaning technician. This is hard work, but it provides excellent results for the technician who is committed to providing quality service. The combination of his physical work, application of the right cleaning agents, conscientious operation of the equipment, and thorough extraction of the water will result in the deep clean you are looking for when you hire a carpet cleaner in Denver.

By Elite Carpet Cleaning 5-6-2013

Carpet Stretching In Denver Part 1 What causes those wrinkles in my carpet and how they can be fixed

Carpet stretching is one of the most frequently requested carpet repairs in Denver. Homeowners call because bubbles and bumps have appeared in their carpet, because seams are separating or/or peaking, or because the carpet appears to be pulling off the tack strip at a transition from carpet to a hard floor. These are irregularities that we are happy to fix. We will address each one of these subject in a series of blogs. This blog will focus on bubbles and wrinkles. Bubbles and Wrinkles Bubbles appearing in your carpeting are a concern; they are a tripping hazard for you and your family and they make a room unsightly. There are two reasons why a carpet will form these bubbles and wrinkles and they are both related to the carpet installation.

  1. The original installer did not employ his power stretcher or used it very sparingly.
  2. New carpet was installed on old, compromised tack strip

This is a Power Stretcher, the required tool from proper carpet stretching. Residential carpet is usually made with a synthetic backing that acts like elastic when stretched. The tension of an install stretch is what locks the carpet in place on the tack strip. When the carpet is installed properly, it stays in place without using nails or glue to attach it to the floor. The IICRC, (Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification), an internationally recognized authority on standards of carpet inspection, cleaning, and restoration, endorses specific guidelines for proper carpet stretching, not only in Denver, but worldwide. The CRI 104/105 guidelines for carpet installation require the extensive use of a power stretcher, with no skipped space between the areas stretched with the power stretcher. Unfortunately, carpet installation can be done much quicker and more profitably by improperly using a knee kicker instead. Initially, the installation looks good, but the elastic backing will begin to stretch as the carpet is walked on. As this stretching continues, it eventually results in bubbles and wrinkles. Improper carpet stretching is, unfortunately, common in Denver, and many newer homes have issues shortly after they are occupied. Additionally, if tack strip is damaged while removing an old piece of carpet, wrinkles and bubbles can also form. When the old carpet is being removed, a person may simply grab a corner and start to pull it. This pulling creates a rather unique popping sound, almost like a zipper. What is making the noise? The spikes of the tack strip are being bent out of shape as they tear the heavy fabric of the carpet backing. The compromised spikes may hold a new carpet stretch, even a correct stretch from a power stretcher, but not for long. In a short time the backing will pull the carpet off the damaged spikes, creating slack in the carpet backing, which will be visible as bubbles and wrinkles. This problem must be fixed by replacing the compromised tack strip or adding new tack strip, and performing another carpet stretch. To protect yourself and your investment, it is important to hire a properly trained IICRC certified technician. The IICRC certifies technicians for carpet repair and reinstallation, teaching them the guidelines for proper carpet install and stretching. We are happy to provide a quality carpet stretching service for the Denver area. What is involved in corrective carpet stretching? Corrective carpet stretching for a room containing bubbles or wrinkles requires:

  • Identifying the cause of the wrinkles, whether improper stretching or compromised tack strip
  • Completely clearing the area or room to be stretched
  • Setting up the power stretcher:

First, a padded section of wood is placed along the base of one wall that the stretcher foot will brace against. This reinforcement ensures that the force of the stretcher is not concentrated on a small or vulnerable piece of wall that could be damaged. Next, sections of steel tubing are attached to span the room. Finally, the head and handle of the stretcher are attached. The head of the stretcher grips the carpet. As the handle is depressed, the power stretcher acts like a jack, slowing powering the head of the stretcher away from the foot on the opposite wall.

  • As each area is stretched into place it is secured to the tack strip. The power stretcher is repositioned the width of the head, then stretched again.
  • Proper carpet stretching requires that the carpet be stretched toward each wall, not just one or two. When this technique is completed across both directions of the room, the carpet stretching is complete.
  • All that remains is to trim any edges, tuck the carpet under the baseboard, and return your belongings to their place in the room.

Why should I be concerned with how well my carpet is stretched? As mentioned above, the wrinkles and bubbles are unsightly and a trip hazard, but they are also destroying your carpet. Improperly installed carpet wears out from the bottom up, much quicker than carpet that is properly stretched into place. This is because loose carpet moves a great deal more than carpet that is tightly secured. Every time it is walked on, or vacuumed, or furniture is moved across it, the carpet backing rubs against the pad, subfloor, and tack strip. This wearing will eventually break down the carpet backing. By the time the wear is apparent from above, the carpet may require extensive repair or, in extreme cases, complete replacement. Stress and wear of carpet is accelerated when there is excess slack from improper stretching. You will add years of use to your carpet, enhance the appearance of your home, live safer, and save money by hiring a quality carpet stretching company that services the Denver area.

CATEGORIES: Carpet Stretching