This is a subject that seems, no pun intended, to have no end. I have written three or four articles on seam issues over the years but it is a subject that is worthy of another visit.
One dealer contacted us about an installation in which he had several long drops of carpet in a room that got a great deal of daylight. The seams were run into the light source as they should be. However the seams were still evident for two reasons. One was because there was a slight peak in them, even though a wider seaming tape was used and the other reason was due to a color variation in the carpet. Both of these conditions can be fixed. The peaked seam by remaking the seams with new technology available from Orcon and Gundlach and with newer lower profile seaming tapes specifically designed for eliminating this problem. The color variation at the seams can be corrected successfully by feather dyeing the edge of each carpet panel. When this is done by a skilled craftsman there is a very high success rate.
Major points of annoyance are seams that come apart, fray, zipper, fuzz or delaminate in both direct glue down installations or stretch – in installations. Fraying is when a section of the seam comes apart, fuzzing is when fiber extends from the edge of carpet at the seam. Zippering is when a row of continuous filament yarn pulls out of a seam and leaves a void. Delamination is when the primary and secondary backing of the carpet come apart. When these conditions occur at a seam it is almost always an installation issue. These conditions can all be prevented if the seams are properly treated and made.
There are carpets that require special attention just by the nature of the way they are constructed. This is not to say they are defective only that they require certain skill sets to properly make the seam. Woven goods for example may require putting latex behind the edge of the area to be cut for seaming and then applying latex seam sealer to the edge to be seamed. If this is not done and done properly you can guarantee there will be a compromise of the edge of the carpet. On some carpets that are glued directly to the substrate it is often necessary to put a latex seam sealer on the edge of the carpet cut to be seamed before the carpet is placed on the floor and the edges of the two carpets seamed together.
Another problem is with seams made in direct glue down installations on which seam sealer is used but used incorrectly. This can sometimes be a situation that will frustrate an installer because he can prove seam sealer was used and, in fact, the evidence will prove him right. However, very often the seam sealer was not applied correctly or the carpet seam not made properly. The seam sealer on direct glue down installation has to be applied to one edge of the carpet while it is in contact with the substrate. The adjoining panel has to be compression fit into the sealer and pushed against the already installed first panel. Compression fitting means that the edge of the carpet has to be slid into, not dropped next to, the already installed and seam beaded edge of the carpet. If the successive panel of carpet is dropped into the sealer, the sealer will contact the back of the carpet but not the edge. By compression fitting the seams the sealer will actually weld the carpet together. This will prevent the seam from coming apart, fraying, zippering or delaminating.
If you have questions or concerns about seam issues on carpet or any other flooring material, contact us and we’ll help you.
Author: Lewis G. Migliore
LGM and Associates – The Floorcovering Experts