[murky]

Watch out for the Brinton Belltwist, its a Wilton weave but with a double ie 'bell'  twist, it will last 20 years plus but will shrink if your not careful, did 1 a few years ago, as I packed away my porty kit thought 'carpet feels bouncy' and only when I looked closer at it I realised what it was, and it was starting to come in, got the kit back out and sucked it as dry as I could. Phew!!!!!!!!!

[wayne zabel]

How do you identify these Brinton carpets?

BW are easily identified - what about these

Whoops sorry didn't read all that last post properly - It gives the ID in there

[Dave_Lee]

Jute does not shrink. In a woven carpet when shrinkage occurs, it is because the structure of the carpet (backing) becomes damp or wet. The Jute then swells causing the stringers which are very often Cotton (and interwoven around the Jute weft) to adjust to the increased circumference. This causes the stringers to pull in from the ends and shortening the carpet lengh.
Shrinkage across the weft or width happens because the cotton stringer tightening up on the swollen Jute causes it to become strangled and indented. As there are numerous stringers across the carpet width, the many indents cause a shortening in the lengh of the Jute.
There you are clear as mud.
Dave.

[carpetfitta]

in terms of providing a solution to your problem, as ian roch...  pointed out...whether its you or somebody working on your behalf doin the job, as part of the site survey always check the existing carpet, and cover yourself first and foremost.
you see the carpet may have been fairly short to begin with...?  

anyway, if its a very cheap rubber backed carpet, you wont get much stretch out of it.is the floor concrete?  or wood?  if wood, you can buy some gimp pins and stretch and pin, the pins r so small they will be invisible to the eye...DIY shops stock em..concrete will be sprayed.

unless its a cord on underlay, which i very much doubt.although not uncommon. it may stretch sufficiently...cheap thin cords can only take a small degree of stretching before they rip though

if its a more heavy duty cord, with a thicker rubber backing, feels quite substantial to the touch.usually, across the board of manufacturers, you can get a very gd stretch, 2 cm shouldnt be a problem, on the length and always less on the width... - however, if its stick down and not on grips/underlay fold the carpet back to the centre/middle and spray it with spray adhesive then stretch towards each end of the room, whilst spray too...either carpet type will be a problem to anyone inexperienced...

and to the experienced... a bit of a ball-ache..

problem will be exacerabated if theres no underlay and its a cheapo thin cord thats been heavily stuck to the floor, as the backing will separate from the carpet if the carpet is lifted up.

in summary - thin cord stuck to floor - problemo, approach with caution, if heavilty  stuck ur f*kd!        
                     thin cord on grip/underlay - more chance of a stretch, press one end onto        grips, and work in opposite direction stretching to the other end until on grips
                    
                     thicker cord stuck to floor -  more solid rubber backing, more chance of stretching spraying and stretch
                     thicker cord on grip/underlay - happys days - easy stretch.

hope this has helped...and ive covered everything...if not jus ask..baz x




i could go on all day...i hope im been of some help...all qs us ask...