LESLIE: Louise wants to talk flooring. How can we help you?
TOM: Hmm.
LOUISE: … and I’ve heard about that. This is a tan carpet. It’s got some stains that cleaning won’t get out. I would like to dye it a dark brown or a dark blue. Is that pretty cheap? Is it easy to do? How do I do that?
LESLIE: Alright, Louise. I mean I’ve heard it done and it can be done. It’s certainly not going to be inexpensive because the dyes themselves are expensive and not every kind of carpet can be done. Synthetics certainly need to be tested in inconspicuous areas or scraps to make sure that it will even adhere the dye.
LOUISE: You read my mind about cleaning it later, yes.
TOM: Yeah, mm-hmm. Absolutely.
LESLIE: And you know, wools or wool blends; those will accept the dye really well. You have to make sure that the material itself that your carpet is made from will be willing to take the dye because some it just – you know, some are so stain-resistant it’ll just bead right off.
TOM: And Louise, imagine how much work is involved when you go to paint a room; how you have to cover everything that you do not want paint to get on. Well, it’s much the same preparation when you have pros come in and dye your carpet because that stuff is called dye for a reason …
LOUISE: That’s right.
TOM: … and if it gets on the places you don’t want it, it makes a big, stinking mess. There’s a lot of specialized equipment involved and it’s a big project. So …
LOUISE: I guess it’s just not worth it, probably.
TOM: Well, I think you need to compare it …
LESLIE: I mean it could be.
TOM: … against the cost of a new carpet.
LOUISE: Right, and that’s the thing. OK.
TOM: Let me give you a website where you can go to get some more information. It’s Americolordyes.com; A-m-e-r-i-colordyes.com. They sell all of the gear there and they have some homeowner products, too, that you could take a look at and learn a little bit more about this process.
LOUISE: OK, well I thank you kindly. Have a good day.
TOM: You’re very welcome.
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