Rugs, Carpets and Carpeting - High Seams? Do they come out?
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03-19-01, 07:40 AM
We're closing on a new home this week (I can't wait!). This is a spec home that was completed about 5 mos. ago. We have a great room with a noticable carpet seam (you can see it from the upstairs balcony about 15' high). The builder says that it is a high seam and that it will relax once we've lived in there for about 2 mos. It is a good grade carpet (upgraded) with a good pad. The seam runs the length of the room & runs parallel to the window, so the light on it doesn't help. Will this really go away? Should we insist on adding to the contract that they will replace it if the seam doesn't relax? Let me know what you think!
Carpets Done Wright
03-19-01, 09:34 PM
Peaked seams... Seam peaking is normal. There are measures to reduce peaking during installation. Take a rubberband. Cut it in half. Put a small peice of scotch tape on a table, sticky side up. Now press the rubberband halves onto the tape real hard. Now stretch the rubberbands with the in between the two halves. Notice the area where the tape is doesn't stretch and flatten out(get thinner, and where the to rubberband halves touch peak up.
If your carpet was stretched properly it will not relax. The installers could have reduced the peaking effect by prestretching the length right at the seam, before making the seam. Also seaming with the seam sealer wet to bond both seam edges together reduces the top notch effect. But this only reduces the highlight and doesn't eliminate it.
Berber loop pile will show peaking more then a plush cut pile carpet.
You shouldn't be able to see a peaked seam from 15' up in the air! Are you sure it isn't a sidematch problem?
Get down on your hands and knees and spread the nap at the seam and see if the edges are together, overlapping, or gapped. You want them touching together, not overlapped or gapped. Overlapped and gapped will add to a noticeable seam.
If your carpet was stretched properly it will not relax. The installers could have reduced the peaking effect by prestretching the length right at the seam, before making the seam. Also seaming with the seam sealer wet to bond both seam edges together reduces the top notch effect. But this only reduces the highlight and doesn't eliminate it.
Berber loop pile will show peaking more then a plush cut pile carpet.
You shouldn't be able to see a peaked seam from 15' up in the air! Are you sure it isn't a sidematch problem?
Get down on your hands and knees and spread the nap at the seam and see if the edges are together, overlapping, or gapped. You want them touching together, not overlapped or gapped. Overlapped and gapped will add to a noticeable seam.
kevman
04-03-01, 01:14 AM
Dear CarpetsDoneWright,
Most accurate answer I have ever heard,concise to the point and 100% on the money. Althought I have read your Posts before and not always 100% agreed you always give true objective answers.
To Alli
Listen to Carpets and check the seams they will tell the story about your problem and as far as the tech terms in his answer I am sure you can E-Mail Either of us to answer any ????'s you have.
Thanks,
Kevin
Most accurate answer I have ever heard,concise to the point and 100% on the money. Althought I have read your Posts before and not always 100% agreed you always give true objective answers.
To Alli
Listen to Carpets and check the seams they will tell the story about your problem and as far as the tech terms in his answer I am sure you can E-Mail Either of us to answer any ????'s you have.
Thanks,
Kevin