If you don't want to replace the carpet now you could cover it up with an area rug. Have you ever had the carpets professionally cleaned? That may help you decide. They can do a better job than my upright steamer can.
I need to rant right now. Because I am debating what I should do. I just got a wonderful gift of money from my mother for my birthday yesterday. It is to pay for something in particular (not saying until I get it...hopefully...I am waiting on ebay). Anyways, I come home from work today and smell something (like melted rubber or plastic). All I think is my cats dragged something dead into the house again. I come in and find that they knocked my snakes (yes I have a snake as well) heat lamp on the floor. There is now a circle of melted carpet in the back cornor of my boyfriends and mine bedroom. The circle is about 2 1/2" in diameter. Now here is my problem, I have the normal bills coming up (mortgage, Association dues, tuition, etc.) coming up and planned for those. I also now have a check for my birthday to get something I have been... coveting for a long time. Now I feel I have to replace the carpet. But I don't want to spend my money.
Here are a few details:
1. I do own this condo 100%
2. The carpet already looks like "poop" because my cats used to drag earthworms and dead rats into the house and leave them in areas (resolve and oxyclean can only do so much).
3. They have also managed to tear up the carpet in areas around the house.
End point, the carpet at some point will need to be replaced, the question is, do I do it now. Or should I wait maybe a month or two to replace. Would it be horrible to leave a hole there. It didn't sink down past the bottom potion of the carpet (the area where the carpet bits are sewn in. So I am not seeing padding or wood flooring.
What should I do?
If you don't want to replace the carpet now you could cover it up with an area rug. Have you ever had the carpets professionally cleaned? That may help you decide. They can do a better job than my upright steamer can.
If the burning part didn't make a smell, I'd drag something over the hole, or put down a smaller rug over it. (I have a rug over carpet where I'm livin; it may not be classy, but the carpet color was so boring.)
But I am cheap. [img]tongue.gif[/img] I guess it depends on how much it bothers you...and whether or not you think you'll be able to keep the cats from ruining your new carpet. If they're just going to wreck new carpet, maybe you can get some other type of flooring and use rugs?
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">See that is what I think too. I believe that until our youngest cat (still a kitten) gets spayed and I am reassured that she won't suddenly be bringing odd things into the house. Also that my two older cats will no longer scratch underneath doors. Then that would be the time to get new carpet. I think I am in the mind set of ruining it as much as I can and either when I sell the place (five years) or I feel like nice carpet would do this condo well. Then get it replaced.Originally posted by Kenshinchan:
I guess it depends on how much it bothers you...and whether or not you think you'll be able to keep the cats from ruining your new carpet. If they're just going to wreck new carpet, maybe you can get some other type of flooring and use rugs?
I am just glad they didn't start a fire. I mean I did almost want to come after them when I came home, but all I am thinking is if they had started the fire would they have the common sense to get out (we do have a cat door). That and my snake would die and all my AG would be gone (I do have insurance but I don't feel I could replace them).
Can you find a better way to secure you heat lamp so that the cat's can not pull it down. Our cat love to move things around, she regularly rearranges my dad's desk.
Don't worry about the carpet, cover it up with a rug and replace it later.
Ashley
I'd so just rearrange the furniture. Or cover it some other way like Kenshinchan suggested. It's not cheap, it's practical! [img]wink.gif[/img]
I like hatboxes for in corners, and they'd easily cover such a small hole. You can get them pretty cheaply at craft stores, stack several matching ones of different sizes, and even sit a doll or stuffed animal on top. They make it look like you made an extra effort to add a decorative touch to a room when really they're just good for hiding miscellaneous clutter or doll things if your collection is small. (If your boyfriend doesn't mind the girliness of hatboxes- but you can always cover them with a less-girly contact paper or something or get the kind you can paint)They're also an attractive way to utilize space above bookshelves and stuff. (Oh, no, please tell me I don't sound like a snotty Martha Stewart wannabe after that comment... I'm just a messy craft nerd who had an equally messy mom and who has learned to find creative ways of hiding both of our messes while still keeping them easily accessible)Or try a big decorative basket or something.
Also, check out a local grocery store. The one I worked at in high school had professional-strength carpte cleaners people could rent. It involves more effort, but is probably less expensive than having a professional service clean it and definitely cheaper than buying a whole new carpet. (It was an ACME back in Jersey, but maybe other stores owned by the Albertson's/Osco company could also carry them)
And check this out:
http://www.pestcontrol-products.com/repel.htm
Scroll down to the fourth product. It's called "Repel? Dog & Cat Repellent Spray," and they claim that it "Prevents pets from soiling or damaging treated areas." Maybe if you do get the carpet cleaned or if you decide to get a new one, that could be an option for making sure that the cats keep their "gifts" away from certain parts of the condo. I do not own cats and have never tried the product, but it sounds like an interesting option to look into.
But, yeah, don't bother wasting your money on a whole new carpet. Save it for dolls! [img]tongue.gif[/img]
I think you've answered your own question [img]smile.gif[/img] . But I'll throw my two cents in: Go ahead and wait, if you don't mind having a little area rug in that area. And instead of new carpet, I would recommend Pergot or the laminate that looks like hardwood floors. Some are better than others, but it can cost the same (or a little more) than carpet and will positively affect the value of your condo if it looks good. Plus, it will be easier to clean when your cats leave you a present.
First, I totally agree that you might want to wait to replace the carpet. We have 2 dogs at my house (the sweetest corgis - Bonnie and Snickers) and while they are housebroken, they still track mud in on their feet, etc.
Second, the money was a birthday gift for something special. I think you should use it for that. You should get something that will still be special to you years down the road - new carpet won't do that (especially if you plan to sell your condo).
Let us know what you decide! [img]graemlins/rainbow.gif[/img]
-Ruth
<font color="#33CCCC" size="1">[ May 30, 2006 11:51 PM: Message edited by: rosyposey79 ]</font>
Another thing to remember, Home Depot occassionally runs specials when you spend $299 you can get no interest or payments for 12 months and sometimes flooring is 10% off. You can make small monthly payments or wait until next year to pay it off-just finished my basement this way. The hardwood laminante sounds like a good idea. I have a 9 month puppy who is still having a hard time being fully housebroken. Wish my whole house was hardwood.
The most important thing is to make sure that the fire never happens again . Can the lamp be secured
so that it can not be tipped or brought into contact with flammable substances . If you have to leave the heat lamp on when you are not home
the cats need to be kept away . Cats love warmth.
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