The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California
Carpet Laying And Estimating Website
In the more elegant installations, a custom-tailored carpet may be specially woven on a Jacquard loom with an individual design or pattern, and in a particular shape—circular, oval, octagonal, etc. In the average installation, however, such areas have to be covered by a combination of broadloom or 27-in. carpet, as already described on pages 45-46. Pattern matching, as outlined in Chapter 5, takes on considerable importance in such installations, as well as location of seams with regard to traffic and lighting conditions. Most foyers and lobbies are brilliantly lighted, with additional spotlights bringing out details of the carpet pattern. Under these conditions, the placement and sewing of seams is a critical matter.
Stairways. As noted previously, commercial installations are only large-scale adaptations of domestic installations. However, stairways are like foyers and lobbies in that they, too, are major elements of interior design and come in for special scrutiny from visitors and guests. Moreover, stairways are usually of the "ornate" type—exceptionally broad, long, and "upswept," frequently curving in a wide arc or broken up by a number of landings or turnings. In addition, they are subject to a great amount of traffic. They may be carpeted full width, or with a margin on either side, and may be wide enough as to take broadloom in 6, 9, or 15-ft widths instead of the ordinary 27-in. carpet used for domestic stairways.
"Smoothedge" Installations. Inasmuch as the "Smoothedge" Tacklessstrip method (pages 112-125) is in such wide use today for commercial as well as domestic installations, the estimator or planner should figure on this type of installation wherever possible, rather than any of the earlier or conventional methods of fastening. "Smoothedge" strip is cheaper in the long run, because it not only gives a more satisfying and professional appearance, but definitely saves considerable time in the actual laying process—and time is what the customer is paying for after he has bought the carpet itself.
Accordingly, one of the most important steps in the estimating and planning phase is to make an accurate estimate of the amount of Smoothedge strip required, as outlined in Chapter 8. This estimate should also include the amount and location of "Gripperedge" or other flush finishing strips (pages 108, 125) required for hearths, doorways, and other areas where flush finishes are required.
USE OF SCALE DRAWINGS FOR JOB LAYOUTS
The rough sketches, with all necessary measurements either located on the sketches or cross-references in your notebook, should be taken to the shop when all measurements have been completed. Here they should be studied very carefully and thoughtfully before attempting any estimate of carpet yardage.
The first step in this preliminary study is to make detailed scale drawings (see pages 51-54) showing all the offsets, curvatures, and other irregularities of the floor areas to be carpeted.
