What Is Carpet Seam

Carpet seams showing is often the difference between and ordinary carpet installation and a masterpiece.

What is carpet seam. Seam peaking occurs when the seam is set and then stretching occurs as the installation process is completed. Berber carpets should be cut lengthwise along the bias. In order to make sure that the seam is sealed properly apply gentle constant pressure. To seam carpet start by laying the pieces of carpet on the floor so that the edges overlap each other by 2 inches.

The installer should tell you about carpet seams to avoid any dissatisfaction with your install. While this is an admirable goal invisible seams should never be promised. Seaming carpet like a pro requires precise cuts and proper seaming technique using heat activated carpet seaming tape and a seaming iron. A carpet seam sealer is an option for fixing a fraying carpet seam.

The key to a tight fitting professional looking seam is to start with a double cutting technique that matches the two edges perfectly. Then trim 1 inch from each edge using a sharp blade so they match up exactly with no gaps. This device is meant to ensure that the seams stay sealed for a long time and works well at doing so. If an installer has addressed these concerns then that is the best seam that can be made.

Simply apply the sealer to the gap and allow it to dry fully. Sunlight will flow over seams that run toward windows minimizing their visibility but will highlight or accentuate any valleys between carpet sections that run perpendicular to windows. When the carpet is stretched it is pulled where the edges of the tape are attached to the carpet and the two pieces lift to create a peak. Unseasoned carpet and flooring installers typically forget this or simply don t know how to handle seams resulting in the following.

Next lift up the edges of carpet and spread a thin layer of carpet adhesive on the floor where they will meet. While invisible carpet seams are not always possible it is the goal of many great installers to construct invisible seams. Again this is an excellent technique to get a good longitudinal stretch on the carpet but it does not address seam peaking. Essentially this is a temporary issue caused by stretching.

Install carpet strips so that they run toward the room s windows rather than perpendicular to them. The backing of your carpet will be attached to the seam tape and stretching during installation can pull the points where the tape is attached tight enough to cause the top section of the carpet to peak upwards. A seam should have the carpet backings flush to each other without gaps and without overlaps. While this is required so the carpet does not come apart at the seam it has no effect on seam peaking.

Failure to explain in advance where the seams will be.