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[Gaffers]

I am in the process of buying a house which is still under construction.  One of the other houses was completed for viewing and some of the carpets did not have underlay, infact only the stairs had any at all.

I have asked them to include underlay but in case they refuse can I add underlay after the carpet has been laid?  Or am I asking for trouble?  Obviously I will need the carpet tools etc but just curious as I am a little heavy underfoot.

TIA 

[RobG]

I am in the process of buying a house which is still under construction.  One of the other houses was completed for viewing and some of the carpets did not have underlay, infact only the stairs had any at all.

I have asked them to include underlay but in case they refuse can I add underlay after the carpet has been laid?  Or am I asking for trouble?  Obviously I will need the carpet tools etc but just curious as I am a little heavy underfoot.

TIA 

Not a problem as long as you fit the gripper rods around the perimeter and use a "carpet kicker/stretcher"

[dbug]

Its possible mate but a pita - best to get underlay fitted from day 1

[Sir Tigger KC]

Its possible mate but a pita - best to get underlay fitted from day 1

+1 

[henryd]

Its possible mate but a pita - best to get underlay fitted from day 1

+1 

+2

[Gaffers]

I totally understand on getting it done before but they are being a little difficult with other simple things like if I supply the paint can they use another colour instead of the horrid mint green that is on the walls in the demonstrator so I am not holding my breath on the underlay even if I supply it myself or pay for it.

[hotel21]

Other thing to bear in mind when adding underlay is that the doors are probably hung to a certain thickness of floor covering. Adding underlay may well mean trimming the bottom of doors, rehanging same or using rising butt hinges to clear.

I have been told by a carpet fitter friend that whilst quality of carpet is important, it is equally important to get good quality underlay. Once that starts to degrade on the busy walk routes the carpet soon starts to follow.

[biggriffin]

 here we go. the carpet thats allready down will be cheap trade foam backed an glued down(spray glue),looks good for the punters,when you try to take it up to put the underlay down,it might be allright or just rip,and if it was ok it will be to small to put underlay and gripper rods down,also might be unsuitable for gripper rods.
how do i know all this,just had new hall,stairs,landing and bedroom done. asked a similer question about the carpet in a bedroom, as for underlay buy the most expensive quality you can afford,ask the carpet fitters which one they recomend, not the shop sales staff,as they want the commison of the sale.we had the middle priced underlay and hessian backed carpets fitted, nice n comfy.
 hope this helps a bit.

[symes]

my lads a carpet fitter----and here now--he says following
Underlay first with grippers and then lay carpet
If foam back you will not need underlay
Argue amonst yourselves-Marcus(son) only telling you whats what

[Kevin Wood]

Yep, all good advice. My local carpet guy has always said use the best underlay you can afford, then figure out what's left in the budget for the carpet.

House developers do everything on the cheap and don't give a monkeys if it's in a state in a year's time. By then they'll have wound the company up, started a new one and carried on.

We looked around a new house last time we moved. Clearly the central heating had just been commissioned. Every plumbing fitting in the place was weeping. Now, I'm no plumber, but I dabble every so often, and maybe I'll find one in 20 joints I make needs to be nipped up. Enough said. Oh, I'm not helping, am I?

I would find out what carpet fitter the builders are using and pay them to do the job properly, TBH.

[cleggy]

Negotiate with the builders to get what you want, quality underlay and your choice of carpet, plus decoration

[AndyRoid]

Can't answer your question, but a friend of mine is a carpet fitter by trade and his prices are very reasonable.

Our new local is the Beehive (opposite Manor Park), pop down for a beer and a chat and I reckon you'll leave quite happy price wise 

[chrisgixer]

What ever they fit, will have to be heald down somehow. Glued, tacked, stapled, whatever. Which means it will be ruined once lifted up again. And so will the floor.

Foam backed carpet is NO replacement for under lay. IME.

New builds come in a cirtain base level.

NO carpet. They don't want the agro of nailing gripper bar to concrete floors made from sand and water. Or trimming doors, made of paper mashay. Its a mine field for them that they are passing on to customers.

NO curtain rail batons. Stud walls won't hold them up and the rsj is in the way of any drill.

Which, ime, means... The skrirting board wont stay put either, even on block walls. Another joy of fitting carpets in a new build.

They,ll 've had a million and one punters ask the same questions, re fixtures and fittings. They won't help.


IMO. Don't buy a new build. Ever!

But that's just me.

[Lazydocker]

But then all houses were a new build at some point 

[chrisgixer]

But then all houses were a new build at some point 

...that way, someone else gets all the grief. Not to mention snagging lists, and customer "care"