Seam peaking is the lifting of the carpet backing at both sides of the seam which can occur stretch is applied during installation. This happens only with broadloom installed using pad and tackles in a stretched in installation with hot melt tape; it will not occur with a sewn, pin taped or direct glue down installation.

What happens during peaking is; the seam tape, adding another layer of support to the carpet backing just beneath the seam, will try to align itself into the same physical location with the backing while the two sections of carpet are tensioned and lift up. In other words, the tape is actually pushing the carpet up while tension is being applied during the stretching process. To prevent this it is necessary to alter the reaction.

This is achieved by using a seaming tape that will dissipate the energy being exerted over a wider area or other means. For example, use 6- in. instead of a 3-in.wide tape. There are specialized seaming tapes designed to reduce the peaking, but remember, it is not always possible to eliminate seam peaking if you will be using a hot melt tape. The heavier the carpet and its backing, the more likely a peaking seam will occur. New backing products with softer, more flexible materials should be less of a problem for you.

Carpet with a susceptibility to peaking should have seams running into the light source, as opposed to perpendicular . Seams running this way have much less chance of shadowing, which will accentuate the seam. Perpendicular seams will stick out like a sore thumb.

If you want to see whether a carpet will peak or to show the customer what causes a peak , first make a test seam with a small piece of carpet. Let it cool. Cut the piece a couple of inches long by about 12 inches wide with the seam in the middle. Put the carpet down on a flat surface and then pull on the edges. If the carpet is going to peak you will see it happen before your eyes.

DREAM SEAM FROM NCE

To prevent the seam from peaking, you can do several things. Sewing the seam together will eliminate the problem. Using a wider tape, a lower profile tape or a specialty tape minimize it. Back rolling the edges of the carpet may help as will making the seam on a flat, firm surface such as a board or a Dream Seam from NCE.

You can also stop stretching at the point the seam rises; however, you may later have to with loose carpet, buckles and wrinkles. You can also glue the carpet to the pad using a laminating technique, (pad to floor, carpet to pad) or use a carpet with an attached cushion back, which few products have.

To fix a peak, you can also glue the carpet to the pad under the seam to pull it down after you notice the seam peaking. First, you’ll have to pull the carpet back from he wall, but don’t open the seam. Then, glue the pad to the floor under the seam with pressure sensitive adhesive, do not put the pad seam directly under the carpet seam though.

Next, sand the backing of the seam tape to remove the silicone treatment. Now apply about a trowels length of premium, multi- urpose adhesive under the carpet at the seam to the entire length of the seam. Immediately put the carpet back down and re-install it. Do not let the adhesive set up first, or you’ll drag the pad along and make a mess for yourself. Then, press the carpet into the adhesive using a piece of carpet core. Doing this should resolve the peaking problem.

A peak will show itself right away or not at all, unless something is done to the carpet afterwards by someone to cause a problem. Wet cleaning may cause shrinkage or maybe a new house settling exert tension and peak a seam. Peaking is not a defect in the carpet. It can be controlled during installation if you know what to do.

You work with these products enough to know which give you the most trouble. Those which trouble you should also teach you how to deal with them.