Toronto Carpet Inspector

I actually got an inspection this week where I had to turn back the carpet and measure the thickness of the pad in the traffic areas as compared to untrafficked areas.

I walked into the home and saw the two areas the homeowner was complaining about were under a plastic runner in the master bedroom and the pivot spot in front of a desk.

Of course the first thing I say to myself is well of course these areas are going to be bad. But my training kicks in and I say to myself “don’t jump to conclusions”.

I have to have a helper with me to move the furniture around and lo and behold I check the pad and see that indeed the pad in the traffic areas are compromised. I say to my helper (and to myself) “you see, you never jump to conclusions”.

Its funny how often I walk into an inspection and upon first glance I think I know what the problem is only to discover how wrong my first impressions were after following  the proper protocols.

I always ask my customers in my interview for claim history what the previous people inspecting the carpet for the retailer, installer or mill rep did when they “inspected”. Its rare that I hear of anyone so much as get down on the carpet.

I have to wonder why people so often trust these preliminary observations.

I saw a couple of inspections back to back last week that had to do with pulled loops. Both inspections have dogs.

The first inspection was in a brand new home in a small town. This subdivision like most new developments in central Ontario encourage hardwood floors on the main level of the home. This customer knowing her two larger dogs would scratch the heck out of hardwood decided to go with carpet on the main floor and tile on the hallway. She asked for “dog friendly” carpet. The builder then put in loop pile olefin berber. I have never heard of this style of carpet being dog friendly. Of course there are about a dozen pulls on the main floor carpet.

The next day I see a similar inspection in a family room of a large suburban home. The carpet has already been replaced because of loose loops. The retailer, installer and mill rep all believe its damage from her dog. Of course when I get to the house at supper time the “dog is not home”. The lady says to me “trust me his nails are not long”. A simple analysis of the situation should show retailers that paw nails will snag loops on carpet. Yet the retailers are selling loop pile carpet to these prospects. I just don’t understand.