You stick carpet together primarily through a process called seaming, often using a hot-melt technique where a special adhesive tape is heated to join the edges.
Understanding Carpet Seaming
Joining pieces of carpet is essential when covering large areas or fitting carpet into rooms with complex shapes. Unlike gluing down a single sheet, joining carpet sections requires a strong, durable bond that is invisible and lies flat. One common and effective method is the Hot-Melt Seam.
The Hot-Melt Seam Method Explained
The Hot-Melt Seam technique is a standard practice in carpet installation. It involves creating a seamless joint between two pieces of carpet using heat-activated adhesive.
Here's how it works:
- Placement of Tape: A special material known as thermoplastic tape or hot-melt tape is placed directly underneath the seam line where the two edges of the carpet meet.
- Adhesive Activation: This tape is coated with a heat-sensitive adhesive. To join the carpet edges, a special seaming iron is used to heat the tape from above.
- Bonding: As the iron passes over the seam, the adhesive on the tape melts. The weight and pressure applied during the heating process help the carpet backing adhere firmly to the melted adhesive.
- Cooling and Setting: Once the heat is removed, the adhesive cools and solidifies, creating a strong, permanent bond that holds the carpet seams tightly together.
Important Note: As the reference clarifies, while the method is called "Hot-Melt Seam," the carpet fibers or backing themselves are not being melted or heated directly to cause the bond. The heat is specifically applied to melt the adhesive on the tape underneath.
Key Components
The success of a Hot-Melt Seam relies on a few essential components:
- Carpet Seaming Iron: A specialized tool designed to apply controlled heat and pressure.
- Hot-Melt Seaming Tape: The crucial element placed beneath the seam, containing the heat-activated adhesive.
- Carpet Seam Roller: Used after heating to ensure maximum contact and adhesion while the tape cools.
By carefully aligning the carpet edges and properly applying heat to the hot-melt tape beneath, installers can create a secure and virtually invisible seam that allows the carpet to look like a single, continuous piece.
