5/14/2008
9:44:42 PM 

Most of the seam and peak problems I see on the job come from not pulling the tape off the pad, which I heard SDN can help with that. Another problem with seams is seaming tapes lacking quality or profiling and the horrible smells that make me feel nauseous. I like good old latex and have tried the thermal sealing and do not like it because it is just too much of a pain to deal with and not worth my time trying to fix all the mistakes I make with it.

I have been shown an excellent way to thermal seal without all the pain and mess and it saves me time by applying a small amount of glue, kind of like you would with a glue down carpet. It is so easy all you do is put the seam tape under one side of the carpet then seal it to the tape, let dry then flip the other side of the carpet over then line it up and start seaming.

I really like the tape because it is low profile and has a quality glue on it with the holding power that I like in a tape. If all that isn't enough, it is reversible yet you can take it back apart and make adjustments on your seam.

This product is from the guys at Kool-Gide.com. It is worth your time to go to one of their training and certification courses. If you go you will not regret it. I like it so much that I'm planning on using it on every job when I get used to it.

Most seam problems come from not knowing how to stretch with a power stretcher. If you are trying to pull everything across a room from one side, you are going to create excessive seam peak and over-stretching as well as moving walls.

Here is an example for you to try. Take a rubber band and stretch it tight and you will see that the rubber band will start to break down and you will see kind of white lines in it showing you that there is too much tension and you need to back off a little.

Now, carpet over pad is not going to pull like a rubber band because it is going to cling to the padding in some instances. However, by using the method that I have described below it will help you eliminate some of the problems you are having with the seam peak.

If you want a more even stretch you are not going to get it out of just the power stretcher. The power stretcher will not give you the jarring action you need to get the carpet across the dead spots in the padding or when the carpet and pad is clinging together.

What you need to do is use your power stretcher and following CRI guidelines for stretching the carpet in drum tight, now every time you stretch with your power stretcher, lock it down then start from your tail block with your kicker and work your way towards the power stretcher-head using your kicker- kind of like a slap stapler action- bumping your way back and forth taking the play out until you get to the power stretcher-head.

Stretching drum tight is done by learning the feel of your power stretcher and the products you are working with. Although there should be a manufacture specified amount of tension for this. Unfortunately there is not because of lack of funding I am guessing in this field. Studies need to be done in this area using a tension gauge.

I hope this helps someone.

5/14/2008
10:57:08 PM 

Very good question Roger. Sometimes the silicone on the seam tape is blotchy and if you rub your hand down it you will find what I'm talking about. I still carried toilet tissue on the truck because you never know when you're going to need it.

By the way, what did you think of the rest of my post?

5/16/2008
9:18:10 PM 

Thanks Ray, Jim is not a bad guy he just a little crazy.

5/29/2008
12:22:55 PM 

Stephen,
Darian does not produce peaked seams so I doubt that he is familiar with the type of peaking we are discussing.
Peaked seams are due to tape sticking to the cushion and lifting the cushion upon stretching.
Peaking is also due to stress lifting at the seams because the tape does not stretch with the carpet.

Does anybody remember Conso Tape? That tape was 'crinkled' and would stretch with power stretching. We NEVER had peaked seams using Conso Tape as the tape would grow with the carpet when we stretched it.

5/29/2008
5:58:30 PM 

Stephen thank you for your input. I have been following your work and others for roughly 8 or 9 years now. I’ve learned many different things from you and others.

Quote from Darien: "Most of the seam and peak problems I see on the job come from not pulling the tape off the pad."

I'd have to respectively disgree. Did you write that Darian?

Yes I wrote that Stephen. I just wanted to see what kind of response I could get from it.

Have you ever heard of sanding and glueing down the seam tape and pad to eliminate peaking? No? Well I have and I think ole Jim Walker came up with it,or some cifer did. Not that I would suggest such nonsense.

Stephen thank you for answering this for me but if you don't mind I can answer for my self.

The answer is yes, I have heard of it and I have tried it to. My main problem with that technique is it only works with the right padding and even then I don't feel it works well.

If the seam is stuck on the cushion, part of the tension is being taken up by the cushion. It's simply peaking because its lifting the pad off the substrate.

This last statement you made helps me prove that excessive seam peek can be caused by improper stretching standards. Just as you stated how the seam sticks to the pad therefore your not going to get the stretch required 1 to 1 ½ % or slightly less in the width on the other side of the seam. In some instances we have to manipulate the carpet into place using a blower or plastic under the carpet because it is clinging to the pad. This clinging together is going to require more force with the power stretcher to achieve the 1 to 1 ½ %. What I'm trying to say is we need the kicker in conjunction with the powerstretcher in order to achieve an even stretch throughout the entire room of carpet or you will have an excessive amount of seam peak.

Ray, What do you mean by, "Darian doesn't produce seam peak"?

5/29/2008
7:31:00 PM 

Ray no man is perfect. I do the best I can for my customers that all.

5/29/2008
10:35:50 PM 

Alright try this and tell me what you find. I was shown this many years ago during a training and seam peaking was being talked about. Take a piece of carpet seam a pc of seaming tape all the way down like you would a normal seam but with no seam just the tape on the backing let it cool and the powerstretch accross it like you would if stretching in a room using 1 to 1 1/2 percent and then tell me what you see.

FD

5/30/2008
2:04:42 AM 

everybodys got opinions,,,,

5/30/2008
4:00:25 PM 

Ray, thats because the installer is not using a straight edge and is row cutting it and following the wavy rows. Then when you seam it up you can easily get crowded seams or puckers like that if your not careful.