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Jason Jabara
Jason Jabara is the current manager at Jabara’s Carpet Galerie. After graduating from WSU, the family business became a large part of Jason’s adult life. His father Tom, mother Susan, brother Josh and his uncle George assisted in that endeavor to a large degree. Perhaps one of Jason’s greatest strengths is his hands-on approach. Jason can be reached by calling (316) 267-2585 or you may visit their website @ www.jabaras.com.
Carpet, Tile & Floor Covering
2011-07-01 08:32:00
Wrinkling, seams, padding and cleaning
Answer: Carpet wrinkles are a combination of the following factors: humidity and temperature at the time of the install, proper installation using a power stretcher, proper cushion and the quality of carpet. In Kansas, the humidity and temperature can vary greatly making the carpet hard to work with in cold weather and causing the carpet to loosen with the change in seasons. Ideally, carpet has time to acclimate before installation and heating is absolutely required to allow the installer to work with the carpet to get a proper installation. CRI (Carpet & Rug Institute) standards require that stretched in carpet be power stretched. Power stretching is a tool with a head that has pins, a pump handle and poles that are braced against an opposing wall. While a knee kicker is a useful tool during the installation it is impossible to get a proper stretch without the use of a power stretcher. CRI standards state that an inappropriate use of cushion may result in wrinkling and buckling and that the cushion thickness should not exceed 7/16 inch and most manufacturers suggest a firm dense cushion for the best performance. Higher quality carpet will normally have either a higher pic backing or “softbac” that are construction methods that help reduce the need for a re-stretch, however, these enhancements do add to the price of the carpet. Any reputable installer or retail store offers a re-stretch as part of the installation warranty to account for the known factors that cause this wrinkling. Re-stretching your carpet does require the rooms to be emptied and involve an installer using a power stretcher to remove the wrinkles and trim back the excess carpet. Question: What causes seams to show in carpet? Answer: Assuming your seams are constructed to CRI (Carpet & Rug Institute) standards by a qualified installer seam visibility is part of broadloom carpet appearance. Most rooms are wider than 12’ wide requiring a seam and visibility cannot be guaranteed. The largest factor in determining how visible a seam will be is to analyze the lighting in the room. Seams construction perpendicular to a light source will create a shadow that will be easily seen. When determining the material necessary the estimator should draw a scale drawing and note any significant windows, doors or other light sources. Every effort should be made to reduce the number of seams by reducing fill pieces or considering a carpet that comes in 15 or 13’6 widths if this will help remove seams. Many times by purchasing a couple more yards a seam can be removed or moved if seam visibility is a big issue. The style of carpet being chosen also has a significant effect on seam visibility, looped carpets or those with pattern matches are more difficult to hide then a textured or a frieze piece. An improperly made seam may also be the culprit if the edges are gapped or overlapped. A seam may be remade at least once, however, this is usually not going to solve the problem. Proper planning and discussions with your retailer and installer are the best way to insure that you will have the best seam placement possible. Question: What types of padding are available? Answer: When purchasing carpet the proper cushion is an important factor in the long-term wear and satisfaction of the installation. Proper cushion provides additional support to the carpet improving seam performance, reducing buckling or the need for re-stretching and most importantly improves the comfort of the carpet as you walk on your floor. Cushion is measured in thickness and weight. Generally most manufacturers suggest a firm, dense cushion no thicker than 7/16”. The most popular forms of construction are rebond cushion, solid polyurethane and rubber cushion. Rebond cushion is taken by using recycled foam primarily from the furniture manufacturing. It is the most economical and popular but can have inconsistencies including hard spots. It is also likely to breakdown over time. Solid polyurethane is also a foam cushion but does not have the inconsistency problems. Rubber cushion is the firmest and densest cushion available. Generally it is a good idea to replace the cushion whenever you replace your carpet considering all the dirt and spills that accumulate over the years. However, some cushions are now treated to be antibacterial which helps prevent the growth of odor and stain causing mold, mildew, fungus and bacteria before they become a problem. Question: What type of cleaning method is best for my carpet? Answer: The absolute most important part of the long-term satisfaction of your carpet comes from how well you maintain the carpet. The most overlooked is simple vacuuming. Frequent vacuuming is important with the minimum of once a week. High traffic areas such as around doors or in living rooms will likely require more vacuuming depending on the number of people entering the home. It is also important to have a vacuum powerful enough and in good working order. Each particle of dirt has hundreds of razor edges that act to cut your carpet fibers creating traffic patterns if not properly vacuumed. Vacuuming alone does not remove all the dirt embedding in your carpet. There are a number of different methods of cleaning available ranging from dry powder cleaning to hot water extraction. Most carpet manufacturers suggest, and some require, a specific method as outlined by the IIRC at least every 18 months in order to maintain the manufacturer’s warranty. Hot water extraction or “steam” cleaning is a method that involves pre-spraying the carpet with a cleaning agent and then removing the agent and dirt with clean hot water. While there are several do-it-yourself options available on the market, it is suggested to use a professional to insure that there is enough suction power to properly remove all of the cleaning agent and the water. Leaving any of the agent in the carpet will actually attract dirt and make the carpet look dirty quicker.
 
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