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Carpets
Carpet Fitting
At Franks we have a team of 8 fitters, 2 of which are master fitters and 2 are trained by fita (www.fita.co.uk ). Frank himself was a fitter for 15 years and Andrew is also fita trained. We continuously looked at fitting in detail and make sure all of our fitters are up to date with new ways and tools for fitting. Each team of fitters have there own van suitable for carpets (no roof racks).
In general we fit carpets in our local area (Within 60 mile) but we can arrange fitting throughout Ireland and Northern Ireland depending on the size and nature of the fitting required. Feel free to contact us about fitting your carpet and we can advise you as to whether this is possible.
Carpet Maintenance
This is Franks guide to getting the best out of your new carpets and how to deal with spills and stains. However you should always contact the manufacture to determine the most suitable cleaning method for your carpet.
With a little care and attention you will be able to prolong the life of your carpet and help it keep its good looks.
Your new carpet
A common myth with a new carpet is that you should not vacuum new carpets. This is not the case and you can in fact vacuum straight away.
After your new carpet is fitted you may notice a few single tufts or loose ends standing above the pile. This is quite normal and they should be trimmed off with a pair of scissors or a sharp knife. Do not pull them as this could damage your carpet. Your carpet may also "shed" fluff for some time after fitting. This is caused by very short lengths of loose fibre left over from the manufacturing process. This is not a fault and the fluff should be simply vacuumed away over time.
Vacuuming
Dirt and tiny pieces of grit become trapped in all carpets. As the carpet is walked on these particles rub against the fibres and can cause premature wear. Vacuum at least once a week and use doormats to remove excess dirt and grit.
Rugs
It is worth considering using rugs or mats in areas that receive particularly high wear, such as in front of chairs. People often shuffle their feet when sitting eating or watching television. This can damage the pile of the carpet causing wear and flattening. This effect can be reduced using rugs, occasionally repositioning furniture (if practical) .
Your Footwear:
Also remember that rubber soled shoes (such as trainers) are designed to grip and will therefore pull at the pile of your carpet. If you avoid wearing such footwear in the house your carpet may retain its looks for longer
Stopping a spill becoming a stain!
Accidental spillages happen in every home and have the potential to ruin your carpet. Here are some simple tips that may help prevent a spill becoming a nasty stain.
- ACT QUICKLY!
Spillages are more easily removed when tackled immediately. Always try to avoid letting a spill dry on your carpet (with the exception of mud which can usually be vacuumed off when dry) - NEVER SCRUB!
If you scrub your carpet it is likely that you will damage the carpet pile so even if you do remove the stain you will still have altered the appearance of the carpet. Instead always use a dabbing action or gentle wiping using absorbent material. - DON'T USE HOT WATER!
Heat is used in the dying process to add colour to carpets. If you add hot water to a spill you are actually encouraging it to bond permanently with your carpet. Instead, use cold water to rinse the spillage out of the carpet. - DO NOT SOAK!
Soaking your carpet with water may damage the backing. Simply dampen, then soak back up with a clean absorbent cloth or kitchen towel. If you patiently repeat this process then you have a good chance of removing the spillage completely. Once most of the visible stain has been removed, leave your carpet damp with several layers of kitchen roll, weighed down by something flat and heavy (such as a book) overnight. This will help to draw the remainder of the stain out of the carpet. - AVOID USING WASHING UP LIQUID!
Have you ever cleaned a stain using washing up liquid only to find that a dirty mark appears in the same spot weeks later? This is caused by traces of detergent being left on the carpet pile. Detergent clings to dirt (which is why it cleans so well), but if not rinsed away it will gather dirt where you don't want it and keep it there! If you do use detergent make sure that you rinse the carpet very well indeed!
The following is a guideline on removing certain substances from your carpet. For persistent stains, or if in doubt, consult a professional carpet cleaner.
Dealing with different types of stains!
- COFFEE & TEA, RED WINE, PORT & SHERRY, FRUIT JUICE & MILK
Soak up the liquid with absorbent tissue then dab the area with a clean white cloth which has been moistened in a solution of diluted carpet shampoo and warm water. - CHOCOLATE
Carefully scrape off excess using a blunt knife. Dab the area with a clean white cloth, moistened in a solution of diluted carpet shampoo and warm water. - FELT-TIP PEN
Some felt-tip pens have spirit-based ink, some have water based ink. Methylated spirit on a cotton wool bud will remove spirit-based ink, which has a pungent smell. But do not allow it to penetrate to a foam backing. The methylated spirit may stain a light coloured carpet. For water-based ink, use carpet shampoo. - BALL-POINT PEN
Speedy action is essential. Dab with methylated spirit on a cotton wool bud. Take care not to spread the stain. On vinyl upholstery or wall coverings, immediately scrub with a nail brush and warm soapy water (the ink will cause a permanent mark if left). - NAIL VARNISH
Spoon up deposit; avoid spreading the stain. Moisten a pad of cotton wool with amyl acetate or acetone (non-oily nail varnish remover) and dab on affected area. Use it only in a well-ventilated area. - DEEP CLEANING
Inevitably some dirt will accumulate over time and this can cause a carpet to lose its freshness. In such cases we recommended professional cleaning. Periodic professional cleaning (how often depends on use) can help to prolong the life of your carpet. - TAR
First, carefully scrape up the solids with a blunt knife and then treat the stain with a recognized brand of tar remover, following the instructions carefully. - URINE
Mop up straight away and dab area with a solution of diluted carpet shampoo and one egg cup of white vinegar per pint of solution. - BLOOD
Soak up the liquid with absorbent tissue, then dab the area with a clean white cloth, moisten with cold water. If the stain has been allowed to dry, dissolve with cold water and continue as before. - GREASE
Usea blunt knife or spatula, remove as much solid material as possible. Blot up the residue and treat with a dry cleaning liquid, blotting frequently with absorbent cloth. - ANIMAL ACCIDENTS
First, carefully scrape up the solids with a blunt knife then dab the area with a clean white cloth moistened with a solution of diluted carpet shampoo and warm water. - PAINT (OIL BASED)
Blot excess spillage with absorbent tissue then clean with white spirit. Dab the area with diluted carpet shampoo and then follow with an application of clean water. Dab until dry and brush the affected area. - PAINT (EMULSION)
Blot excess spillage with absorbent tissue then clean the affected area with cold water. Apply diluted carpet shampoo on a clean white cloth; apply clean water and dab dry. - SHOE POLISH
Carefully scrape up the solid and clean gently with a dry cleaning fluid. Then use a clean white cloth, moistened with diluted carpet shampoo, to rinse the area. - CHEWING GUM
Freeze the gum with a proprietary freezing agent, break up when frozen and remove. Repeat as necessary. - CURRY
An extremely difficult stain. Large marks should be treated professionally. With small marks, scrape off the deposit and rub lightly with borax solution (15ml borax to 500ml water). Stubborn stains can sometimes be helped with a little neat glycerine rubbed into the carpet and left for about 10 minutes. Then sponge out with warm water and blot dry.
Carpet Shading
Carpet is a soft, luxurious product and flattening of the pile will occur as a natural result of use. The sides of the pile appear a slightly different shade in colour to the ends and so any flattening will change the apparent colour of the carpet and this can be patchy when the use of the carpet varies in different areas.
Such shading and flattening is not a fault. Shading is a natural phenomenon which cannot be totally eliminated in the production process and is therefore not considered to be a manufacturing fault. Areas where foot traffic twists and turns(for example near stairs or in front of seating) can be especially prone to such changes in appearance. The shading effect can be exaggerated by such things as room lighting and certain types of traffic across the carpet
Berber carpets use random blends of colours which as a result may give a lined effect. These characteristics do not affect the wearing properties of the carpet.
During transportation and storage carpet pile may become slightly crushed and this may show as shaded bands across the pile. Often at the end of the carpet were it touches the cardboard pole in which it is wrapped, the pile may be crushed for approximately 12 inches and can appear as a band across the carpet. These bands will disappear as the carpet settles into its new environment and as the pile is flexed through use and vacuum cleaning.
Berber Yarns
Natural yarns are random blended. That is to say that undyed natural wool is mixed with dyed wool, to give Berber and tweed carpets their flecked look. Because of this there may be a lined effect not seen in a small sample. This is a natural characteristic of berbers and not a manufacturing fault.
Visible Bands
When carpets are stored in warehouse racks, they are subject to considerable and sustained pressure. As a result, crush lines may be visible when the carpet is first unrolled and may be more noticeable in lighter, open ground shades. Often at the end of the carpet were it touches the cardboard pole in which it is wrapped, the pile may be crushed for approximately 12 inchs and can appear as a band across the carpet. These bands will disappear as the carpet settles into its new environment and as the pile is flexed through normal use and vacuum cleaning.
Fading
Although every care is taken to ensure dyes meet strict requirements, carpets, as with other natural textiles, cannot be dyed absolutely fast to light. Carpets will tend to fade when subjected to sunlight. Normal wear and light soiling will also give the appearance of fading and both effects are obviously beyond the control of the manufacturer.
Color
The colors of carpets and flooring shown on this site are as accurate as possible. However, colors may well appear slightly different on different PC monitors as settings may not be the same and different again under the lighting conditions in your home. Please order samples to confirm colors and inspect the carpet in the lighting of your own home.
Dye batches also vary and therefore it may be possible that your carpet does vary very slightly from the sample. It is however very rare that this difference is significant enough to cause a problem.
Sprouting Tufts
To give cut pile carpets their smooth level, surface; they are put through a shearing process. This action can be likened to that of mowing a lawn. Each roll is made up of millions of tufts and there is likelihood that some of them may have been missed during shearing. After a time, these work their way to the surface and appear as sprouting or shooting yarn. Pets with claws may also snag or pull the tufts causing the same effect. NEVER pull a tuft, simply cut it off level with a sharp pair of scissors.
Shedding
All newly fitted carpets will tend to shed, or fluff, which is perfectly normal and will diminish naturally in a few weeks. The only efficient way to remove this is by vacuuming. If this is not done, the fluff remains on your carpet and will be trodden back into the pile resulting in a flat, matted and dull look.
Size Tolerance
All sizes quoted are approximate. Slight variations are unavoidable and a tolerance of plus or minus ½" (1.25cm) is allowable in accordance with clause 3 of British Standard 3655 of 1981.
Please ensure that your size is correct before ordering and that you have accounted for the above tolerance. If you have any queries about measuring feel free to contact us or read our measuring help section of this site.
Choosing a Carpet
Choosing your new carpet is a major purchase from which you expect maximum life and comfort. With thousands of products on the market many people are uncertain about what to buy and how much it is going to cost.
- Consider the room it is for, and how much wear it will receive.
Is the carpet going in a room with heavy wear (like the stairs or living room) or light wear (such as a spare bedroom)? How many people live in your house? Have you any children or pets? All of these factors will affect how much use the carpet gets and therefore how long it is likely to last. Even the shoes you wear in the home or the amount that you vacuum can affect the life of your carpet. - What Colour to choose
Colour is a very important consideration when choosing a carpet. When deciding on a colour you need to consider firstly the tone you want to create in the area and secondly is the colour, which creates this tone practical for the use that the room will get. Remember that brighter colours in general are harder to maintain with regards to stains. Other thoughts may be are there any particular fabrics or existing décor to be matched. What are your future decorating plans for the future? - Pattern, Plain Textured
In recent years the variety of carpets available has become huge. Picking the style of carpet is like deciding on the colour, you need to consider the traffic the carpet will get. What type of style is in surrounding rooms is their existing furniture that needs to be matched. - How long do you reasonably expect your new carpet to last?
Is it a quick fix or a long-term purchase? How much do you want to spend? Don’t forget to include the cost of fitting underlay and other materials. If you want a carpet that will look good for many years in an area of very high wear then the simple truth is you will have to spend more money than if you are happy to change your carpet more frequently. Whilst there are many inexpensive carpets on the market that are very durable and look good these are usually less luxurious and comfortable than other ranges. - What size do I need?
For more difficult areas like hall stairs and landings we always recommend to get a professional to measure and plan your area. In our advice section of this web site we give a easy to use guide on measuring and also a price guide that may help you understand what size you will need and also what price range you might look at. - Do I want a new underlay?
This will prolong the life of a new carpet by up to 40% as well as giving added comfort. Many people under estimate the importance of a new underlay with regards to how it improves the feel of the new carpet you buy.
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