FAQ
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions
Question and answer section on cutting, sealing and seaming carpet.
Carpet Seaming and
Installation
Carpet Edge Sealing
Products
Kool Top®
Irons
CARPET SEAMING AND INSTALLATION
What type of tape do you use on
a plush carpet?
Yarn face type has no real bearing on type of tape.
Carpet backing is what matters.
What type of tape do you use on
a burlap backing?
Burlap back may refer to ActionBac®
(polypropylene) or jute backing (not used much).
What type of tape do you use on
borders?
K-80 designer tape because it allows the paper backing
release to be peeled off after the seam has been made.
What type tape should be used on
berber?
XK-30, XK-50, K-10 Wide, XK-50 Wide (best), Super 3 Wide.
Which tapes don't have silicone
treatment on the paper backing?
CT-7, CT-11 RB and Super
3N.
What type of tape should be used
on a woven back?
Super 3 is the best; XK-50 is also a good
choice.
What type of tape do you use for
a Sisal (grass cloth) backing?
XK-50 or XK-50
Wide.
What tape is best to use on wool
carpet?
Super 3 and XK-50.
What tapes of choice are
recommended for Softbac® backing?
XK-30 for residential and XK-50
for commercial applications.
What tapes of choice are
recommended for urethane laminated backing?
XU-90 for residential
and commercial applications.
Is there a generic name for
woven back?
The term woven back is generic.
What type tape is recommended
for UPS (Ultra Performance System ) backing?
XU-90.
What type tape can be used on
indoor/outdoor carpet?
Hot-melt seaming tape is not recommended on
this type of carpet. Carpet should be glued down direct, so no tape is needed.
If any tape will work, try XK-50 (be sure to test before
using!).
How many yards on a standard
roll of tape?
There are 22 yards per roll / 66 feet. PS-C consists
of 15 feet. DS-PS is 20 yards / 60 feet. Sure Stik is 22-foot
rolls.
What type of pad can be used
under a berber carpet?
A firm pad should be used under berbers. A
synthetic pad is best. High density rebound (7 or 8 pounds or more) is second
best, with thickness not to exceed 7/16".
What tape would you use for
commercial unitary backing?
Most unitaries are made for direct
stick only. Please check with the carpet manufacture for hot melt seaming
recommendations.
What size trowel should be used
for glue down carpet?
Dependent on carpet backing. This call must
be made by 1) the carpet manufacturer and, 2) the adhesive
manufacturer.
CARPET EDGE SEALING PRODUCTS
How do you remove Fast Lock®
from carpet when the Fast Lock® is still wet?
When Fast Lock® is
still wet, use warm water and it will easily remove it.
How do you remove Fast Lock®
from carpet when Fast Lock® has dried?
This depends on how much
Fast Lock® is on the yarns. Acetone will break down Fast Lock®, but if any
acetone comes in contact with the primary backing, it will destroy
it.
What is the drying time of Fast
Lock® or Weld Lock ?
Normal drying time is 15-20 minutes. Depending
on temperature and humidity, it can take up to 30 minutes or
more.
How many lineal feet does Fast
Lock® 8-oz bottle cover?
250 lineal feet; Fast Lock® 32 oz covers
1,600 lineal feet.
Does Fast Lock® have a UV
tracer?
Yes, and the tracer lasts up to six
years.
What are some Weld Lock
features?
Weld Lock features include good strength, locks carpet
tufts into place, and dries clear. When wet, it cleans up with water. It is
designed for direct stick installations. Apply with a 1/8 continuous bead of
Weld Lock on one edge.
What type of glue is in ORCON
glue sticks?
ORCON thermoplastic adhesive with UV
tracer.
What product should be used to
prevent unraveling and fraying of the carpet edges?
Use the
Peak-Buster system, which consists of an ORCON glue gun with a Peak-Buster
nozzle, and our UV tracer glue sticks. You can also use our Fast Lock® seam
sealer by applying a 1/8" bead along the edge of both trimmed carpet
edges.
KOOL TOP® SEAMING IRONS
When heating the iron, does the
light go off once the iron is at the correct temperature for installing
carpet?
The indicator light goes off when the temperature set on
handle is reached.
Are there different temperature
settings on the iron?
Yes, there are 4 settings. Temperatures
for these settings are approximately the following:
1 = 190°, 2 = 280°, 3 =
360°. 4 = 420°.
Should the iron be set at
certain temperature for certain tapes?
It depends on the tape, but
generally the number 3 setting should work on all tapes. XU-90 needs no more
than 2½.
Can I add more cord to the
original iron cord without shorting out the iron?
The cord length
will not make an iron short out. It will however decrease the voltage and may
overheat the wiring in the cord.
How long does it take for the
iron to heat up?
It takes approximately 3 minutes to heat. The
light on top of the handle goes out when the iron is ready to
use.
Can a regular iron be used for
seaming carpet?
Never! It must be a carpet seaming iron specially
designed for use with hot-melt seaming tape. Regular irons will not reach the
correct temperature, and you run the risk of damaging both the carpet and the
iron.