Carpet Seams and Installation

Seams and carpet installation everything may not be what it ‘seems’ to be.
One of the main challenges involved in CARPET INSTALLATION is accomplishing the “perfect seam.”  The real issue is determining what the “perfect seam” is.  And, looking at this in a pragmatic manner is the only way to actually understand the situation.
First of all, by definition a seam is “the line where formed by joining together two pieces of material at their edges.”  And, with that in mind one can surmise that virtually everything has seams:  your shirt, your sofa fabric, even the wood in your desk.  However, the only item where people seem to think that seams should be totally invisible is in carpet!

Carpet Seam Iron

The real issue revolves around a person’s expectations.  When it comes to carpet there are two types of seams – – acceptable seams and unacceptable seams.

carpet seam

An “acceptable seam” is accomplished when the carpet backings are flush to each other and there are no gaps or overlaps.  If the carpet installer has accomplished this, then the installer has accomplished the best seam possible for that particular carpet type and color.  On the other hand, an unacceptable seam is when the installer does not accomplish those tasks when installing your new carpet.
There are, of course, ways to “enhance your chance” of winding up with a near-perfect seam. These include:
•    Ensure that CARPET INSTALLATION is taking place so that the seams run perpendicular to any windows in the room rather than parallel to them, some cases that may not be possible depending on the layout of the rest of the job.  This finds the light hitting them less “full-on,” which will make the seams less obvious.
•    Also, when possible try to have the seams under furniture or along a dark wall.
•    Thick carpets tend to show seams less.
•    Vacuum regularly, which “fluffs up” the carpet and tends to hide the seams.
Keep in mind that when a seam is created by joining 2 pieces of carpet together the process is completed using “seam tape”. Seam tape is roughly 1/16th of an inch thick and 4-6 inches wide so a slight hump may be visible for a couple of weeks, the slight hump happens on every job that carpet must be seamed together, to the point it has been named, “peaking”. There is no way around “peaking” these days due to nobody sews carpet together anymore and seam tape is the industry standard and preferred method.
The thickness of your carpet can also play a role in “peaking”, The thicker and heavier the carpet is the less the “peaking” will be noticed. But don’t lose any sleep yet, regular traffic and vacuuming will help reduce the visibility of the seam over time. The seam tape will eventually sink into the pad allowing the carpet to sit flat.
When it comes to Seams and Carpet Installation the best you can do when looking for Carpet Sales and Installation is find an experienced firm that you can trust and understand that in your home the “perfect seam” may appear slightly less than perfect.
As you can see, SEAMS AND CARPET INSTALLATION is most apt to be a major issue the next time you buy new carpet for your home.  To ensure that you get the “most perfect” seam possible. Any questions contact Joseph Grant 612-213-6582