BS: How to Cut a Rug...

Subject: RE: BS: How to Cut a Rug...
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Apr 03 - 04:39 PM

I still think you need to contact your insurance company. Yes, they do have policies that severely restrict mold claims. But this is a sewerage claim, based on a septic tank problem and damage in the house that isn't just a water leak. The thing is, if you move it all before the insurance company sees it, they could give you a problem or deny an otherwise valid claim. Call and ask. They can only say "no," but they might say yes. You should have a copy of your policy where you can look this up. I absoutely agree with John about moving furniture off of the wet rug. It'll rot the wood. You'll never get it on Antiques Roadshow if it has septic tank high tide marks!

My contractor never went far without his "SawZaw"--I finally figured out what that was, the "Sawzall." Very handy tools.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: How to Cut a Rug...
From: Sam L
Date: 04 Apr 03 - 02:47 PM

Yep. But sawzall is the brand name, I try to say "reciprocating saw" so the makers of a great tool don't lose their trademark to general use, like poor ol' Kleenex and xerox did. I'd try it with a med to fine blade so's it doesn't catch on the jute too much. Also good for my mom's cornbread.

Subject: RE: BS: How to Cut a Rug...
From: Mudlark
Date: 04 Apr 03 - 02:05 PM

Thanks again, all, for helpful, cogent input. Finally got a call back from last carpet cleaner on my list. A nice guy, who while not willing to mess with trying to clean this mess, says he'll come out tomorrow, remove contaminated section of rug and treat the exposed contaminated floorboards with bactericide. That will give me some time to decide my next move. If he doesn't show, I'll put all the above ideas into action.

BTW, Fred, is a reciprocating saw the same thing as a Sawzall? I'm pretty sure there is one of those up in John's workshop.

Subject: RE: BS: How to Cut a Rug...
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 04 Apr 03 - 02:04 PM

The majority of insurers in my area have been attaching "mold, mildew, and dry rot" exclusions to policy renewals for several years now. The "something smells funny so I had to replace my carpet" claim was costing the big bucks.

If the carpet was wet long enough for any mildew to get started, your chances of a successful "rehabilitation" of the old carpet are pretty small. Bleach will "stunt" molds (maybe make them whine a little) but don't reliably kill all the spores - they'll likely pop back at the first opportunity. Bleach will kill the bacteria that are present, but won't remove the nutrients that have "silted in," so any re-inoculation with any bacterial agent will likely "bloom like the lilies in springtime."

There are "mildewcides" that could be applied, but the ones that are likely to be fully effective can be a hazard (especially to small children and pets) since they have to leave a persistent, toxic, residue to have any extended effect.

Even the cost of a decent "electric shear" or other "sophisticated tool" is likely to be as much as it would cost you to get a replacement "throw down" carpet, if you buy remnants from a typical carpet source, or if you go to one of the "salvage sales" or other discount outlets.

Of course, consider your options; but from your description my choice would be 1.) get it out using the simplest and quickest method available. 2.) throw it away. 3.) replace it with something that doesn't go under all that heavy furniture - for next time.

(You do need to get the pieces out from under the furniture, or they'll likely rot the furniture bases in short order.)

John

Subject: RE: BS: How to Cut a Rug...
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Apr 03 - 01:07 PM

If someone is going to come in to help with the carpet anyway, why not have them move the heavy furniture and take it all out? But wait until your insurance adjustor visits. If a spot is damaged the homeowners insurance will replace the carpet in the room, they'd never be able to match a little bit and the labor to do the patch would probably be more than to just redo the room. You should probably refinish the floor underneath it has been soaked with septic tank effluent.

For cutting out carpet use a box cutter and replace the blade as needed. My contractor had his assistants take out about 1800 square feet of old carpet when we started remodeling this house (replacing carpet with tile). They used box cutters and cut it into strips about 24 inches across the room and rolled it up. Took it out to the curb, and someone who recycles the stuff got it before the bulky waste truck got here to retreive it. The carpet is a biohazard, so be careful.

Subject: RE: BS: How to Cut a Rug...
From: wysiwyg
Date: 04 Apr 03 - 12:36 PM

Out tiny rural town has a cleaning company that specializes in biohazardous cleanups-- after a murder or messy suicide, for example, or an at-home AIDS death, and so forth..... check with your local services or call the coroner's office and see if they have a recommendation...

Also if you are going to replece it, isn;t it the job of the carpet company to remove the old carpet???????????

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: How to Cut a Rug...
From: Sam L
Date: 04 Apr 03 - 09:25 AM

I do repair of handmade rugs, and thought I could help, but it seems to be pretty well covered. I might try a reciprocating saw, if you have one, and can pull the carpet up enough. They cut almost everything.

Subject: RE: BS: How to Cut a Rug...
From: GUEST,ghost
Date: 04 Apr 03 - 06:45 AM

I saw the thread title and thought, "Oh joy! I'm finally going to learn how to move these two left feet across the dance floor without looking like a geek. Rhythm and romance will be mine! Guess I'll always be a wall flower." ;0)

Subject: RE: BS: How to Cut a Rug...
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 04 Apr 03 - 05:19 AM

Angle Cutter ?

Subject: RE: BS: How to Cut a Rug...
From: katlaughing
Date: 04 Apr 03 - 03:45 AM

Well, you could always set up a decontamination *bath* of bleach water and make each of you step in, in a shallow tub, after you walk across that part.**BG** Here, doggie, c'mon, put your feet in here and don't lick it off! Sorry...hope it made you smile, though.

One thing that might help is electric shears. They're kind of expensive, but I'll bet you might be able to rent some.

I think it is better, though, to get someone in to help you. Good luck and here's to a quick solution for you and the critters.

kat

Subject: RE: BS: How to Cut a Rug...
From: Mudlark
Date: 03 Apr 03 - 10:59 PM

Thanks everyone, for your input. Very helpful just to know there are helpful thots coming my way. I think the best bet is to get help, however I get it (spending time with truckers would be a walk in the park after the mess I've been thru...I tend to wash my hands about very 5 minutes). JinK, you're absolutely right...this carpet is incredibly tough. I'm already having trouble playing guitar because my Left hand has gone south...and I'm left handed...so I'm unwilling to sacrifice with shears. And because of the shackiness of my dear little home, and the threat of having ins. premiums upped if I actually put forth a claim (of this sort, especially...you get put into some kind of bank, and are branded ever after, even if they don't pay), I think I'm on my own here.

From all that has been said, and my own sense of the problem, I think my best bet is to find someone to help me cut away the contaminated carpet, dump a load of bleach on the floorboards underneath, soak the carpet in water/bleach solution, and let it dry in the sun...then either put back or toss, depending on how fast I can get replacement.

Thanks, guest Jon for knife link...I can't get it to work at the moment but will keep trying. Think the suggestion of working from the BACk rather than front may help (thanks Ebbie...working from front just rucks up this dispicable shag) and I'll call extention agent tomorrow, Kat, to see if they have any words of wisdom for me. And I think wearing a mask (and gloves) is an excellent suggestion as well.

In the meantime, I've covered the whole thing with a heavy area rug, so at least i dont have to fear 12 dog and 2 human feet tracking unspeakable germs throughout the house. I find myself breathing very shallowly, even tho since my last attempt at cleaning there is no smell.

Subject: RE: BS: How to Cut a Rug...
From: Allan C.
Date: 03 Apr 03 - 10:18 PM

Let's address the basic issue here -- contamination. I don't know how it might be in the UK, (and am not sure as to which side of the pond you are located) but I know in the USA there are companies whose sole purpose is decontaminating homes in the aftermath of such a catastrophe. The entire cost of their work is normally paid in full by homeowners' insurance. In all likelihood the decontamination crew will completely remove the carpeting for you! Check with your insurance company. They will certainly have some contact information for the decon company nearest you.

Subject: RE: BS: How to Cut a Rug...
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 03 Apr 03 - 07:47 PM

The optimum solution depends on which of your many resources you wish to spend.

A good sharp knife should do the trick - but it's likely that one blade isn't going to last through a bunch of carpet. Old carpet is likely to be very abrasive because of the embedded dirt, so it takes the edge off pretty quickly.

Jute or other fiber that's been soaked can develop a real resistance to being cut. It's too tough to cut, and too soft to "stand up" to the blade. A "really big pair of scissors" - i.e. tin snips, or metal-working shears may be easier (and safer) to work with. Shears get dull though, just like knives; and they also have a tendency to get loose in the joint - which lets the blades separate instead of shearing the material. You need a good (not necessarily new) pair - and you'll get some blisters using them.

The obvious solution is to find cheap labor with more time and muscle than you have, to yank the thing out for you - and if you can find help of that ilk, they can probably help you lift the furniture off so that you can just roll the stuff up without needing to cut it. Your nearby "bedbugger" (household moving company) probably has a list of "lumpers" (the guys with muscles that they hire locally to load and unload) who'd be happy to pick up a few bucks, and if it's a short job just to get it to the trash bin it shouldn't cost you more than a new Martin (not even a classic oldie). If you can find the tav' where they unwind after work, you might be able to find a couple of friendly ones that'll do it pretty cheaply.

Of course, the downside is that you may end up spending a little time with some truckers - about as painful as blisters, I suppose.

John

Subject: RE: BS: How to Cut a Rug...
From: katlaughing
Date: 03 Apr 03 - 07:45 PM

Mudlark, your county extension agent should have some ideas for you on how to get it cut and how best to treat and dry it afterwards. I did a search on google and there was quite a bit from various county extension agencies, but not specific enough for what you are doing. Good luck!

kat

Subject: RE: BS: How to Cut a Rug...
From: Ebbie
Date: 03 Apr 03 - 07:38 PM

I take care of some rentals and in the course of time I've cut up and hauled off a ton of carpeting of all kinds. What I use is a utility knife, and replace the blades as they dull.

Get a slit cut in the rug for a start so you can get your fingers under it (Careful! Fingers and knife are not friendly), even if you have to kind of rub a hole in it, then aim directly at the backing.

Jute backing is the easiest. Once you get enough of the carpeting detached, turn it so the backing is on the outside and attack it from there. Jute is made of strands- cut those strands and it just melts down.

It wouldn't hurt to wear a paper mask while you're doing it- I've never had to do a sewage contaminated carpet but I can imagine that on the underside of the carpet you're going to run into some sludgy stuff...

Same with gloves, and washing hands frequently with soapy water, couldn't hurt. Any cut or abrasion will be exposed to megagerms.

Subject: RE: BS: How to Cut a Rug...
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 03 Apr 03 - 07:33 PM

Just realised I've possibly just spouted off a brand name that may only be known in the UK. Just in case here is a link to a page with the type of knife I mean - the ones that take the different blades.

Jon

Subject: RE: BS: How to Cut a Rug...
From: Sorcha
Date: 03 Apr 03 - 07:31 PM

I would suggest a Utility/Matt knife, the kind with the changable blade. Take the cut out section outside, and hose it off well, then use antibacterial soap and OxyClean. Glue or duct tape it back down. Use indoor/outdoor carpet glue or "loops" of duct tape. Duct tape will come up again, glue won't.

Subject: RE: BS: How to Cut a Rug...
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 03 Apr 03 - 07:18 PM

Get a Stanley Knife.

Subject: RE: BS: How to Cut a Rug...
From: artbrooks
Date: 03 Apr 03 - 07:14 PM

Do you care about the floor underneath? If not, go down to the local hardware store and get a new knife...the kind with the hooked blade...and go to town.

Subject: RE: BS: How to Cut a Rug...
From: SINSULL
Date: 03 Apr 03 - 07:11 PM

If you are cutting it up anyway, why not throw bleach down on the carpet right now and lessen the risk of a plague outbreak? I thought five kitty litters and a soiled mattress was a nightmare. Good luck.

Subject: BS: How to Cut a Rug...
From: Mudlark
Date: 03 Apr 03 - 07:05 PM

Unfortunately, this is not about dancing. I really do need to cut up a rug. My septic tank backed up over the wkend..big, yucky mess. I've cleaned up all the hard surfaces but a piece of carpeting in the LR was totally soaked, and the soft, splintery floorboards underneath as well. I've cleaned this up as best I could w/water/amonia, etc. But am worried about contamination, bacteria, etc. from sewage. It's an old, ugly shag carpet salvaged from a dustbin many years ago, so I'm happy to replace the whole thing. But the existing carpet, while not quite wall to wall, is pinned down by some very heavy pieces of furniture. So I'm not able to fold back rug sufficiently to clean carpet back or flooring adequately.

My next decision was, what the hell, I'll just cut the contaminated bit of carpet away, hose it down completely outside, and treat the floor with bleach. And here I've come to a large problem. The carpet may be ugly, but it has a very tough jute type backing on it. I have not been able to make a dent in it with: a carpet knife (admittedly not very sharp), a heavy duty box knife, a large pr of heavy duty shears.

If anybody has any ideas for me, I'd be very grateful. I spent the morning on phone trying to get a professional out to clean the carpet but once they hear that raw sewage created the problem, no one is willing to touch it. I have 3 dogs and the contaminated bit of carpet, about 3 ft x 4 ft., is right in the walkway. I have visions of us all tramping bacteria throughout the house (even tho I've got tons of papers down on top, and old towels on top of that).

Help!