Client told me my seams looked like "train tracks" and it stung but fixed my work

I had this one job last month in a split level house in Akron, and the homeowner watches me finish a long bedroom seam. She says "hey, those look like train tracks running across the room." I was kind of embarrassed but she was right, my seams were way too visible because I wasn't back-rolling them enough after the power stretcher. I used to just run my seaming iron and call it good, but now I take a extra few minutes to go over the seam with a hand roller and a little weight. It really flattens the pile down so you can't see the line at all. Has anyone else gotten a weird complaint like that that actually improved their installs?

2 comments

2 Comments

angela_kelly13d ago

Jeez, that's a rough way to hear it but at least she was honest with you. Train tracks is a pretty good description for visible seams, and it's something a lot of guys ignore until a customer calls them out on it. I had a similar wake up call a few years back when a guy told me his carpet looked like a patchwork quilt. Made me slow down and actually pay attention to my seam work instead of just rushing through it. Funny how the harshest feedback turns out to be the most useful in the end.

the_rowan13d ago

Man, that patchwork quilt comment would've stung. But you're right, it sticks with you. I started taping off the seam line before trimming, made a world of difference for me.