Help &
Advice

My carpet has developed some dark stripes.

A not uncommon complaint is the appearance of dark or even black lines around the perimeter of the room against the skirting boards or as multiple tram-lines down or across the room. Examination will show that these lines follow the line if the floorboards.

What is happening is that dirt and dust that has gathered under the floors over the years is being sucked through gaps between the boards by vacuuming and staining the carpet in the process.

Carpet should always be laid on a paper felt or newspaper as well as underlay. This stops dust being sucked through. This is vital if a quality felt underlay is used but it will also help extend the life of a rubber underlay.

The problem of the staining around the perimeter is more difficult as paper-felt does not help here, The dust is coming from under the skirting board and often contains breeze-block dust. A filler can be used to fill the gap between floor and skirting-boards but architects and builders sometime advise against this as the gaps help the house to "Breath". But filler is the only solution currently available.