Timber Frames, Inherited Furniture and Carpet Care in Dedham

It is normal here rather than a problem. An uneven floor means the pile sits at different heights and the wear falls on the high points, so those areas look worse and need working separately. It also means the carpet may not be fixed as evenly as in a modern house, which is checked before starting so that nothing gets lifted or rippled during the work.

Possibly, and the honest answer only comes after looking at it. What matters is the covering, whether it is original, how the dye behaves when tested in a hidden spot, and whether the fabric still has the strength to take cleaning. Some old pieces take a low moisture approach well. Some are not suitable for wet cleaning at all, and you will be told so rather than charged for a job that cannot work.

Tell Louis what your quiet spell looks like and he will tell you what can be arranged around it. What he needs to know is the size of the floor area, whether it is carpet or hard flooring, where water can be drawn and emptied, and how long you can practically keep the space clear afterwards for drying before customers are walking on it again.

Usually, because the machine stays outside and only the hoses come through the building. That is the point worth understanding: what has to fit through your doorway is a hose and a hand tool, not a large machine. What does matter is the route from wherever the van can stand to the room being cleaned, so describe it when you enquire.

It can, because parking near the street gets taken and a van needs to stand somewhere for the length of the job rather than for a few minutes. If your property has a driveway, a yard or anywhere off the road, say so when you book. If it does not, say that too, so the access can be worked out beforehand instead of on the doorstep.

Nothing is fixed, screwed or taped to the building, and no product goes anywhere near original woodwork or plaster. Hoses are routed rather than dragged, and doorframes and stair edges are protected on the way through. If there is anything in the house you would rather was not touched or worked around, say so at the start and it will be left alone.

Only if they turn out to be suitable, and that is assessed separately. Rug construction and dye behaviour vary enormously, and some rugs are not suitable for wet cleaning at all. Send a photograph of the rug and of any label it still has before the visit. Cleaning the carpet underneath is a separate decision from cleaning the rug on top of it.

It depends on what it is, how long it has been there and whether anything has been tried on it since. An old mark that has changed the dye is a different thing from an old mark that is simply soil driven deep into the fabric. Many improve, some disappear, and some will not shift at all. You will get an opinion before the work rather than an excuse after it.

Yes, where the premises and the surfaces are suitable. Hospitality soiling is concentrated: entrances, the route to the bar or the counter, and the seating that gets used every single service. Because of that the approach and the timing are discussed together, since a floor that cannot be kept clear afterwards is not a floor that has been usefully cleaned.

Often, yes, though it is worth being clear about what you would be paying for. Dust and body oils build up slowly and evenly on seating, so people rarely notice how far a set has drifted until one chair is cleaned and put next to an untouched one. Louis will look at the covering and give you a straight opinion on whether the difference will justify the work.

How many rooms are carpeted and roughly how big they are, how many pieces of upholstery there are and how old they are, what the access and parking look like, and anything you already know is a problem. Photographs help a great deal with old furniture. The more of that you can say up front, the more accurate the answer you get.