Carpet fitting dilemma, pathetically anxious - help.

[PinkyU]

I’m sat literally awaiting the carpet fitter to arrive (we’ll all be socially distancing and wearing masks).

When we decided on the carpet and new underlay we wanted we were told that we’d need to remove the old carpet but LEAVE the old underlay. We’ve done that.

We explained that the underlay was extremely old and in very poor condition.

We ripped up the carpet and, as expected, the underlay has degraded to leave clumps of rubbery bits everywhere and is just a mess. Regardless we’ve left it down as instructed and now I’m getting a bit panicky that the fitter is going to arrive and be pissed that it’s still down and in a mess.

Is this the norm? Should I have just ripped up the underlay regardless of what I was told to do?

(The reason for feeling anxious is that I’m in the house alone with my dc and don’t fancy having to deal with an angry/annoyed stranger who’ll be in my house for the next however many hours, but I do feel pathetic admitting that)

Whenever I have cleared a room for carpet fitters they always seem really grateful and have regaled me with tales of absolute messes that they have had to work around, so I'm sure even if it needs lifting it will be fine, should only take a few mins extra of their time,, although you may need to dispose of it if it does need to be lifted. Your reaction to worry to this level does seem a bit extreme though, I hope you are okay

Thanks lois I know it’s an overreaction, I had an unpleasant, aggressive confrontation in a shop yesterday that’s left me still feeling a bit wobbly, so I know I’m over thinking it, I just want to ensure things go smoothly.

I’ve always had carpet fitters remove the whole lot. Carpet and underlay. Just explain what you were told but I’m assuming they are putting new gripper in too so they will have to get that up as well. None of this should be a big deal. Relax! You will soon have a lovely new carpet.

Thank you myohmy I feel a bit better now actually. I mean, I feel ridiculous getting myself into a mess but I’ll put that down to new carpet jitters

Could it be that some of your anxiety stems from having someone from outside your household coming into your home OP? Totally understandable.

I wouldn’t worry about the underlay, they must see this all the time!

Hope it all goes okay. I love new carpet smell and it always makes such a difference to how the room looks. I'm getting new stairs carpet tomorrow!!

Watch them to make sure they don’t put new underlay on top of the old stuff otherwise it will go bumpy and horrible.

Just have bin bags/dustpan & brush/hoover handy to clean up if needed.

Offer him a cuppa while it's getting sorted. He will probably be grateful because carpet fitting is dry work 😂😂😂

Had our carpet fitter turn up today, he was due the day that lockdown started!
He said his first job would be to take up the old carpet carefully as he needed it to use as a template for the new carpet as our stairs and landing are a complicated shape.
We had to break the news to him that the old carpet went 14 months ago and was certainly not there when his boss measured up in February!

Did you buy new underlay? If not, call shop and pay for some over the phone, just explainthat you thought the old stuff was OK and it isnt. If the fitter is still there then they'll send it with him if he isn't you may have to go and collect it.

??? The OP has ordered new underlay!

Do you have a lovely new carpet now OP?

Oh sorry I missed that bit. Serves me right for multitasking