Customer told me my seams looked like trash and now I do everything different

Last month I did a job for a guy who used to install carpet back in the 80s. He walked in while I was finishing up a bedroom, looked at my seams, and said 'you're gonna have to redo that, the nap is going opposite directions.' I was pretty mad at first because I thought I was being careful. But he showed me how the light caught the seam and you could see a line clear as day. Now I check the roll direction before I cut anything and I make sure both sides of the seam have the nap going the same way. Added maybe 10 minutes to my prep time but the seams look so much cleaner. Has anyone else had a homeowner call them out on something that actually made your work better?

2 comments

2 Comments

daniel21422d ago

What you said about the light catching it is spot on. I actually read something from an old flooring installer's blog a few years back where he said that the sun is your worst enemy and your best teacher in this trade. He talked about how people won't see a seam in low light, but the moment that low winter sun hits it from the right angle, every little flaw shows up like a spotlight. Kind of makes you realize that a "good enough" seam in the shade is just waiting to get exposed.

anderson.jason22d ago

That line about "how the light caught the seam" is the real kicker nobody talks about. Most homeowners never notice until the sun hits it just right and then it's all they see.