Walked into a new build in Phoenix and the carpet was already rippling after 2 weeks

Was checking out a friend's new construction house last week and they had carpet put down maybe 2 weeks before. Walking across it and there's waves everywhere, like the pad was already shot. Builder said it's fine, it'll stretch out. I'm not so sure. Anyone run into this with new builds in hot climates? Does the heat mess with the backing that fast?

2 comments

2 Comments

robert_roberts5d ago

Man, I gotta push back on that one a little. That builder is giving you bad info, rippling in carpet after two weeks is not normal and it's not gonna "stretch out" on its own. I've dealt with this in Arizona summers before, and the heat can definitely mess with the backing if it was stored wrong or installed too tight in the first place. The problem is the glue or the pad can soften up in 110 degree attic temps before they even bring it in, and then it shrinks or buckles once it's laid down. Your friend should be calling the installer back, not the builder, and demanding they re-stretch it or replace the bad sections right now. If they wait, it's just gonna get worse as the weather changes and the house settles.

viola_butler5d ago

Have you checked if the carpet was power-stretched when they laid it down? If they just knee-kicked it, that's probably why it's rippling already.