Installation Guide

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• Allow tolerance by cutting carpet 3-4 inches (75-100 mm) longer than the area
measurement
• Carpet pile direction for each area
• Name of manufacturer, style, backing system and color of carpet for each area
• Large scale drawings showing treatment of step areas or other detail work
• Location and type of expansion joints and edge transitions.
• Type of wall base in each area.
6.2 Planning for Seams - Keep seams to a minimum. Position seams so that, where
possible:
• they run the length of the area.
• main traffic flow runs along, rather than across, the seam.
• natural light does not strike across the seam.
• are away from areas subject to pivoting traffic.
• are not perpendicular to doorway openings.
6.3 Transitions to Other Surfaces - Where carpet transitions to other floor coverings,
the carpet edges are required to be protected or covered with appropriate transition
moldings. The edge of the hard surface flooring should not exceed a maximum of
1/16” higher than the total carpet thickness where no transition molding exists.
Where no transition molding is used, apply a minimum of 1/8” bead of seam sealer
to the edge of the carpet along the entire transition.
Wall base - when vinyl or rubber wall base is used in a direct glue or double glue
carpet installation, cove base or base-with-toe is highly recommended.
6.4 Carpet Over Expansion Joints – Do not install carpet over expansion joints (see
definition). Expansion joints allow separate substrate surfaces to expand and
contract independently. In addition, do not install on any area of a floor that does not
provide a stable and mechanically sound surface. This does not include cut or saw
joints within a section of the floor. Non-stable/unsound substrate joint conditions are
required to be addressed in strict accordance with the appropriate architectural
drawing. If no expansion joint device is specified on the drawing, the building owner,
owner’s representative, or other responsible party is required to be made aware that
failure to address expansion joints will potentially result in installation failure, damage
to the carpet and/or safety concerns.
6.5 Pile Direction - Where two or more pieces of the same broadloom carpet are
adjacent, the pile direction is required to be the same unless otherwise specified.
Uniform pile direction is not required with dissimilar carpet.
Note: Ideally, install carpet with the pile lay toward the entrance; but other factors, such as
pattern, aesthetics and economic use of material may be considered
.
6.6 Pattern Matching – Refer to Section 15. Consult the manufacturer for specific
installation requirements and possible warranty conditions. See the CRI Technical
Bulletin, “Characteristics of Patterned Carpet,” for additional information.