Tricks of the Carpet Trade

[Lo Down]

I use my "leaf blower" to sweep the warehouse floor when i need to make cuts or fabricate something. It's smooth concrete, so it cleans pretty good. My Sears shop vac becomes a blower when you snap off the motor..... I love that feature.

[FlooringGirl]

kwfloors said Post #5 if you read from the first page, do you always talk this much? A leaf blower is for blowing leaves.

Hi There!
Yes, I do always talk this much. It's part of the reason why I sell so much. If I'm quiet, everyone gets really scared. You are right, I missed answer #5 on the first page. My husband has been a carpet installer for almost 30 years, and when he brought me a receipt for his taxes for a leaf blower, I went, HUH??
He uses it it to put air under large pieces of Softbac to move it easier.
Thanks for listening, Tia

[tony lamar]

Yes, that is a good use of the leaf blower, Tia. I also do as Lo Down said, sometimes before cutting up vinyl at the warehouse. Also, to clean up after a day of sawing wood or laminate on a customer's porch. Oh, and to clean off a driveway before cutting up carpet on site. Handy tool, indeed.

[Peter Kodner]

Went back and read post #5 and it got me thinking (a rare event ). Any know what has happened to Lea? He hasn't been around for quite a while Lea, you lurking???

[TFP Admin]

Lea had 2 very large projects to do this past spring and into summer, both away from home. I'm sure he'll give us the interesting details when he completes them and has a little more time for himself and family.

T

[rusty baker]

I'm looking for a leaf blower powerful enough to blow some of the kids out of my yard.

[Demonseed]

This may not be a great tip, but when I do tack and pad installations, i get un nailed tack strip, the reason being, you don't have to worry about it, I have a paslode gas charged Staple gun, that will fasten the tack strip to wood better and faster than pre nailed, with no chance of damaging baseboard or moldings, and I have found on most concrete floors, I have to reinforce the tack strip anyway, so I just break out the bag of concrete nails and my set bar. If the concrete is too hard I switch to liquid nail, then nail. That usually prevents the concrete from chipping. and you get a solid bond.

When I have to put pad on a concrete floor, I take a flat trowel and carpet adhesive and glue everything to the floor, this prevents any chance of the pad shifting or expanding, at the same time it will not be impossible to rip up.

For difficult glue down rip ups, or glue down rip ups in general, I have a 'glass cutter' designed to double cut Particular Commercial carpets, but you can adjust the blade so that you can cut the material into 6 inch strips in no time.

Outside corners for cove base, cut as normal and torch, when the base cools it will be like a preformed outside corner.

Unsure if these are helpful, but I find they make the job go quicker and easier.

I will probably think of more

[cproader]

Keep em comin, we'll take all yer secrets.

[DJ]

demonseed, welcome. i think i saw you on one of my tract housing complexes (just kid'n) ,thers a lot of guys that just fly some good tips though be well post more ...dj

[outondaflor]

Floorguy said When stretching down a wall that has been cut net fit without needing trimming, Place you tucking knife or stair tool, or even then 6" putty knife, standing on edge, behind the carpet leaned against the wall ahead of where your stretching. This make things much easier when working down the wall and not having to stop, and hold the carpet up so it doesn'r compress against the wall making you have to roll it up.

Love that tip fguy i will use that one cheers

[Demonseed]

When you have alot of furniture to move, especially on commercial jobs, we use blue painters tape, we put a piece of the tape on the wall and a piece of tape on the furniture so they line up, then you number both pieces of tape, when you return the furniture, it will line up with the tape on the wall, exactly where it was originally. Filing cabinet is facing the wall the wrong way, thats how it was, thats how we put it back.

[Jerry Thomas]

Real good idea there, I usually take Polaroids of a room to help me out too.

(Note to self.... buy more 3M stock.)

[Lo Down]

Demonseed said When you have alot of furniture to move, especially on commercial jobs, we use blue painters tape, we put a piece of the tape on the wall and a piece of tape on the furniture so they line up, then you number both pieces of tape, when you return the furniture, it will line up with the tape on the wall, exactly where it was originally. Filing cabinet is facing the wall the wrong way, thats how it was, thats how we put it back.

We tried something similar to that process in a lawyers office many many moons ago......... Not exactly that way........ we also used Polaroid film. Note to self............ DO NOT use 10 year old Polaroid film. Light fixtures and file cabinets looked way to similar on that old film.

Good tip.

[kwfloors]

A digital camera is cheaper than polaroid. I took one of a china hutch full of displayed china before I unloaded it and put it back just like it was.

[DJ]

NEVER TOUCH CHINA! ...DJ