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Articles & Advice > All Carpet Articles > Carpet Dyeing must be Invisible to the Naked Eye

Carpet Dyeing must be Invisible to the Naked Eye

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What if your flooring is in good shape but looks horrible? Maybe it's even brand new but somehow it appears old and abused. Many times carpeting isn't worn down, torn up, or coming apart, but still looks like it needs to be replaced. How does it happen? It could be that you have kids careless with the Kool-Aid, or a dog being potty trained, or maybe the sun is simply having its way with your fibers. What do you do? It's a waste of money to replace an already quality pile, but you don't want to live with embarrassing stains or ugly shades. Therefore, the most economical solution may be to invest in carpet dyeing.

Replace or Repair?
Often, flooring is the first thing people notice when they enter a home. It's the largest surface area in the house and since you're in constant contact with it, floors are quickly scrutinized by guests and potential homebuyers. So if they don't look good, the value of the property quickly decreases. If your carpeting is faded, discolored, stained, or simply an undesirable color, you should refurbish it. However, replacing any floor is expensive, much less carpeting which requires special installation and stretching. Instead, for a fraction of the cost, carpet dyeing experts are able to apply a new color to the fibers or cover up blemishes to match the preexisting shade. A quick dye job is an easy and efficient way to restore old carpeting without the additional expense.

Carpet Dyeing Concepts
It isn't like painting a piece of wood; you can't just cover up the imperfections. In fact, carpet dyeing specialists are trained in color coordination concepts. Unlike other home renovations, you don't want this project to be seen or admired; you want it to appear natural and seamless. Therefore, professionals use unique techniques and supplies so the dye remains invisible to the naked eye.
Spot Control: Unless they?re caused by bleach, stains usually aren't perfectly white. Instead, they're typically a pinkish hue due to sun-fade or spills. Therefore, to gain back the original color of the fabric the stain has to be offset by a counteracting color, which takes a lot of training, specific knowledge, and expert application.
Re-coloring: If you want to recolor, you need to understand that if your original carpeting is yellow and you want it brown, you have to compensate by using dyes of an opposite shade. Also, be aware you can't tint it a lighter color, you can only go darker.
Safety Supplies: Certified technicians only use products that are safe for the environment, children, and pets. Plus, these dyes instantly colorfast to the fibers and cannot be rubbed, walked, or vacuumed off, assuring a lifelong result.

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Rug Dyeing
Most contractors are also capable of rug dyeing. Since area rugs are meant to be a focal point, it's important they don't appear shabby or ragged. But new rugs are sometimes just as expensive as nice carpeting, so though seriously damaged mats may be beyond repair, minor defects can sometimes be concealed. But rug dyeing isn't just covering up spots; a skilled technician can also replicate Oriental rug designs or create their own intricate borders and patterns.

The Dye Guys
When you dye your hair, most people prefer to call on experts for consultation and application. So why not do the same for your floors? There are do-it-yourself pressure sprayers on the market, but sometimes these machines create uneven coatings, over-saturation of the padding, or additional staining. However, qualified professionals come with their own heavy-duty scrubbers (they look like a giant vacuums), which apply deep, even layers. Plus, it's smart to consult the experts beforehand since some fibers can't be re-colored (polyester, polypropylene, and acrylic). So when contacting the authorities, give them an idea of what to expect: the size (square footage) of the project, the pile of the preexisting product (Berber, cut, plush), the overall color scheme of your home, and any special accommodations they'll need to consider (stairs, furniture, appliances, baseboards). Many times they'll even come to your house and give you a free inspection, demonstration, and estimate of the project before beginning any type of renovation.

Marc Dickinson has worked in both the general contracting and landscaping trades and is currently a home improvement freelance writer with over 300 articles published.

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