Warning: I spent 3 years folding carpet backing the wrong direction before a 20 year vet pointed it out on a job site in Akron

He showed me how the backing will ripple if you fold against the grain, and now I check every single roll before I start which saved me from having to restretch a whole room last week has anyone else run into this?

3 comments

3 Comments

simon_coleman15d ago

Did you find the grain check is easier to feel on new carpet or old?

mark_thomas15d ago

Old carpet every time. The fibers are worn down flat so you can really dig your fingertips in. My living room has this beige Berber from the 90s and I can feel every single seam. New carpet is too plush and bouncy, feels like your hand just skims the surface. Took me a solid five minutes to find the grain direction on my buddy's fresh install last week.

mark_thomas15d ago

Started checking the grain on the backing right after reading the direction arrows printed on the roll. Saved me a headache last month when I was laying down some medium pile in my daughter's bedroom. The arrows pointed one way but the backing felt smoother going the opposite direction. Trusted the arrows and ended up having to redo three rows because the seam kept buckling. Now I always test a small strip first before committing to the whole room.