There is so much misinformation, lack of information or information believed to be fact that isn't that it makes for mass confusion and frustration in the industry. Some of the pleas for help are as follows.

"I need help with a customer concerning carpet seams. The customer's wife picked out a saxony style carpet with a 72oz. face weight- a very heavy, thick carpet. I think the installers did a great job; it looks great. There is one seam at a doorway that is absolutely invisible. The other seams did not turn out as perfect, however, and the customer feels if one seam is perfect, all of them should be. We have gone back once and reworked the seams in question and tried to make them perfect. The customer said they look better, but is still very disappointed that he paid so much money for this expensive carpet and he can see seams. I explained to him light comes in to play with carpet seams. We placed the seams away from traffic areas and tried to run them with the natural light. He does not accept that. Do you have any suggestions or literature I can show him about carpet seams?"

First, let me say unequivocally, seams are not invisible in carpet. Some carpets seam better than others and lend themselves to seams, which are virtually invisible, and other carpets are much more challenging to seam without seeing them. A frieze carpet or shag can be seamed without anything showing. A low, dense, plush carpet is less likely to do the same. I have written at least three articles over the years about seams explaining this.

And here's another one: "I'm working on a commercial installation for a four-story building being totally gutted and renovated. The architect would like us to install bamboo flooring over new Gyp-Crete underlayment on 3,400 square feet on the 3rd floor for an office area. I can't seem to get a definitive answer from the bamboo distributor or the Gyp-Crete manufacturer whether or not this is an acceptable installation method. No one says don't do it, but everyone is tip-toeing around it. I need in writing that this is an acceptable installation situation in order to proceed. Any help you can give me would really be appreciated."

This one we turned over to our two associate concrete specialists and one of our vice presidents who's an adhesive expert. We were able to help this dealer and keep him out of trouble. Amazing though that the suppliers of both the flooring and the substrate prep material could not deliver an answer.

"Lew, I have a customer that I need some assistance with. Work was being done in her home and her laminate floor got wet. The customer dried the floor immediately after the workmen were finished, but within 24 hours the customer called me because the flooring buckled and had raised seams and corners. By the time I got to look at the floor, the concerns were almost completely gone. There are a few places where the seams are just a bit raised but nothing that the customer stated he couldn't live with. His only concern was since the area that had the most exposure to the moisture was in a very high-traffic area, what might happen in the future to the floor particularly with regard to wear and delaminating?"

Each of these inquiries is real, and each received an answer back promptly. The point is, if you have a problem or questions, call us. You may not be able to get an answer anywhere else, but you will get one from us. We don't charge to answer questions either. We're here to help you.