Carpet Joins and Peaking

In all situations where the room is wider than the width of the carpet (typically 3.66m / 12ft), joins in the carpet are required.

The standard practice for joining carpet is to use heatbond tape. This tape has a flexible fiberglass backing with a resin adhesive. The carpet is fixed to the fiberglass backing by melting the resin, introducing the carpet, and allowing it to set, thus binding the carpet to the fiberglass tape.

Seam peaking is a normal and expected response to the natural line-up force to stretching carpet and is simply physics principles at work. The backing of the carpet absorbs the forces of stretching until it reaches the point where the carpet has been joined. As the stretch forces are applied to the seamed area, the seaming tape is pulled upward to align itself with the approximate centre of the carpet backing. This creates an elevation or lump in the carpet along the seam which can cause a gap in the pile to open up in a V-shape as shown below. When light strikes across the peaked seam, the edge facing toward the light appears lighter than that facing away from it, accentuating the join.

Joins in some carpets are more pronounced than in other carpets. You can never expect a join to be completely concealed, and with close inspection any and all joins can be detected. Some joins are more pronounced than others due to the carpet fiber, the flexibility of the backing, the style and colour of the carpet. In all cases light, either sunlight or artificial, falling over an area of carpet that has a join will accentuate the visibility of the join. With light falling on a join it is almost impossible not to notice a join, especially immediately after installation.

Walking over the affected area and regular vacuuming will help peaking settle down and become less noticeable. To avoid traffic and vacuuming of the area will prolong the settling time. It is important to note that joins in carpet will never disappear completely. While some joins will be less noticeable at first glance than others, you will always be able to spot a join if you look for them or are aware of their existence.