Copyright © 2015 by The Carpet and Rug Institute, Inc. Originally published 1982 with revisions issued 1984, 1986, 1988, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 2002 and 2015. All rights reserved. Disclaimer The Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) is the national trade association of carpet and rug manufacturers and suppliers to the industry. The expertise of CRI’s membership comes together to provide unbiased technical, educational, and scientific information about carpet and rugs.
Table of Contents Foreword 7 Acknowledgements 8 General Requirements 9 1.0 1.1 1.2 2.0 Applicable Documents and References ............................................................................. 9 Carpet and Rug Institute References: ........................................................................... 9 Most recent ASTM Standards: ....................................................................................... 9 Terminology ......................................................
Table of Contents 8.10 9.0 Sweeping Compounds ................................................................................................. 17 Product Acclimation ......................................................................................................... 17 Broadloom Carpet 10.0 10.1 10.2 Carpet Seaming ................................................................................................................. 18 Trimming .........................................................
Table of Contents 13.6 Seam Cutting ............................................................................................................... 28 13.7 Edge Sealing ................................................................................................................ 28 13.8 Seaming ....................................................................................................................... 29 13.9 Rolling ...........................................................................
Table of Contents Table IV – Adhesive Types / Definitions 46 Table V – Dew Point 47 CRI Members Contact Information 48 CRI 105 - STANDARD For INSTALLATION of RESIDENTIAL CARPET Copyright © 2015 by The Carpet and Rug Ins titute, Inc.
Foreword 7 Foreword Products have unique characteristics and each installation project should be carefully evaluated to determine proper application of this standard. In circumstances not addressed in this document, contact the product manufacturer for specific guidance. The CRI requires that the services of professionally trained and qualified floor covering installers be obtained for all Residential carpet installations.
Acknowledgements 8 Acknowledgements This Standard was prepared under the direction of the Installation Subcommittee of The Carpet and Rug Institute, Inc. and in cooperation with numerous experts in the carpet installation and related fields. CRI INSTALLATION TASK GROUP CHAIRMAN Woody Belflower, Shaw Industries Group, Inc. CRI INSTALLATION TASK GROUP PROJECT COORDINATOR Pat Jennings, The Carpet and Rug Institute, Inc. CRI INSTALLATION TASK GROUP MEMBERS: Mark Berndt, Bentley Mills Inc.
General Requirements 9 General Requirements This section covers the minimum standard requirement for installation of carpet based upon reliable principles and procedures developed through practical experience, research, and information obtained from manufacturers, retailers, installers, end users, testing laboratories, and others who have specialized expertise. For more detailed information, instructions and training, please contact the specific manufacturer. 1.
General Requirements 4.0 10 Storage and Handling This section covers the proper storage and handling of carpet products. 4.1 Storage Store carpet and related materials in a climate-controlled, dry space. Protect carpet from soil, dust, moisture and other contaminants and store on a flat surface. Stacking heavy objects on top of carpet rolls is prohibited. Double stacking pallets of carpet tile should be avoided unless approved by the manufacturer. 4.
General Requirements 5.1 11 Seams Keep seams to a minimum. When possible, position seams so that: · Seams should run the length of the area. · Main traffic should run parallel to, rather than across, the seam. · Natural light does not strike across the seam. · Seams are away from areas subjected to pivoting traffic. · Seams are not perpendicular to doorway openings. 5.
General Requirements 6.0 12 Testing Most residential stretch-in installations do not require moisture testing. Before direct glue-down, double-glue down and free floating carpet tile systems, the owner or general contractor, or their designated testing agent, is required to submit to the flooring contractor a written report on the moisture and alkalinity conditions of the concrete substrates.
General Requirements 6.3 13 Testing for Alkalinity Testing the pH at the surface of a concrete slab must be conducted in accordance with the current version of ASTM F710, not to exceed manufacturer’s requirements (ASTM F710 Standard Practice for Preparing Concrete Floors to Receive Resilient Flooring). NOTE: Preparing the surface of a concrete slab for pH testing can be problematical. Make sure the concrete surface is adequately cleaned of adhesives, curing compounds etc.
General Requirements 14 indoor carpeted areas to fall below 50º F (10º C), regardless of the age of the installation. If these conditions are not attainable, contact the flooring manufacturer for warranty implications. NOTE: If the above conditions are not met, installations may be susceptible to moisture related failures including but not limited to dew point condensation. 7.3 Ventilation During installation, maintain air circulation by operating the HVAC system.
General Requirements 15 recommendations for patch thickness. Large patched areas must be primed (Refer to General Requirements > Substrate Preparation > Primers section of this document). NOTE: Any concrete floor, even when adequately cured and dry, can allow moisture vapor to pass through to its surface. Depending upon the type of carpet and method of installation, the moisture emission rate greatly influences the long-term success of an installation.
General Requirements 8.4 16 Resilient Installing carpet over resilient flooring may be acceptable as long as the resilient flooring is securely bonded to the substrate and all waxes, sealers, floor finishes and other foreign materials have been removed. It is not recommended to install over floating, perimeter bonded or cushion-backed sheet goods. NOTE: Some sheet vinyl, resilient tile and cut-back asphalt-based adhesive may contain asbestos and/or crystalline silica.
General Requirements 8.7 17 Painted Surfaces NOTE: Lacking documented evidence to the contrary, e.g., current testing, assume that all paints contain lead and treat them in the manner prescribed by existing lead abatement regulations. Painted surfaces may be suitable for adhesive application; however, bond tests are recommended. Glossy surfaces must be abraded prior to installation. Contact the adhesive manufacturer for requirements. 8.
Broadloom Carpet 18 Broadloom Carpet Broadloom defined as carpet manufactured in a roll format. 10.0 Carpet Seaming All seams must be properly prepared in strict compliance with carpet manufacturer recommendations. 10.1 Trimming Carpet seams must be trimmed using tools and techniques best suited for the carpet style (e.g., loop-pile, cut-pile, cut-and-loop pile). Refer to Table I – Tools & Materials at the end of this document.
Broadloom Carpet 10.2.2 19 Seam Sealing (direct glue down only) Apply a bead of seam adhesive to the cut edge of one side only in sufficient quantity to seal both trimmed edges. Ensure the bead thickness is sufficient to cover the primary and secondary backing without contaminating face yarns (See Figure 1). In order to weld the seam edges together, join the edges while the seam adhesive is still transferable. Figure 1 10.
Broadloom Carpet 20 A metal surface should not be used to weight the seam behind the seaming device, as metal traps the heat and moisture. Wood or non-heat conducting material should be used for this purpose. Provide adequate ventilation to dissipate any fumes from the seaming process. 10.3.2 Hand Sewing Hand sewing shall be overcast stitches placed not more than 1/2 inch (13 mm) apart and no less than 1/2 inch from the edge of the carpet.
Broadloom Carpet 21 · Avoid installing tack-strips across door openings and/or sills. Cut tack-strips to follow the contour of door casings and other irregularly shaped abutments. · Do not staple carpet to tack-strips. · On radiant-heated floors, use manufacturer’s approved adhesive to secure tack-strips. To prevent damage to the heating system, do not use nails or screws. 11.
Broadloom Carpet 22 Figure 2: Stretch Diagram for Tufted Carpet In the absence of carpet manufacturer stretch recommendations, use this diagram. CRI 105 - STANDARD For INSTALLATION of RESIDENTIAL CARPET Copyright © 2015 by The Carpet and Rug Ins titute, Inc.
Broadloom Carpet 23 For Woven Carpets, contact manufacturer for stretch-in requirements. NOTE: Size and shape of the room will determine corner designation. Red arrows denote use of a power stretcher and blue arrows denote use of a knee kicker. Step 1: Hook onto tack strip approx. 3 ft. in both directions along corner A. Step 2: Power stretch at approx. 15° angle from wall AC and hook onto tack strips at corner B. Step 3: Hook & secure onto tack strip with knee kicker along wall from A to B.
Broadloom Carpet 11.6 24 Finishing at Wall Finish the installation along the wall, leaving a smooth, neat and secure transition. Trim carpet without damaging baseboards or moldings, leaving sufficient material for backing to be securely tucked into the gully without protruding face or backing yarns. 11.7 Transition Molding Refer to General Requirements > Measuring and Planning > Transitions to Other Surfaces section of this document. 12.
Broadloom Carpet 12.2.2 25 Adhesive Application Spread floor adhesive uniformly over the substrate with an appropriate trowel, leaving ridges of sufficient height to achieve full and complete coverage of both the substrate and carpet backing. Trowel notches wear down during use. Replace trowel as necessary to maintain proper spread rate.
Broadloom Carpet 12.4 26 Seam Sealing Refer to Broadloom Carpet > Carpet Seaming > Sealing Edges/Seams > Seam Sealing (direct glue down only) section of this document. 12.5 Rolling After the required amount of adhesive has been applied to the floor and the prescribed open time has been allowed, the carpet is carefully placed into the adhesive. To insure an adequate bond, it is then required that the carpet be uniformly pressed into the adhesive using a roller designed for this purpose.
Broadloom Carpet 12.7.2 27 Materials for Protection It is recommended that carpet installation be the last trade on any job site. However, if it is required to protect the finished floor covering from soil or paint, or if additional work is required to be done after the installation, the carpet should be covered with a nonstaining, breathable building material paper. Protect the installation from rolling traffic by using sheets of hardboard or plywood in potentially affected areas.
Broadloom Carpet 13.3 28 Adhesives and Trowel Notch Sizes When applying cushion to substrate and carpet to cushion, select the appropriate adhesive and trowel notch size recommended by the carpet, cushion and adhesive manufacturer. If recommendations are not available, refer to the general minimum guidelines in Table II – Trowel Size Minimum Guidelines at the end of this document. 13.
Broadloom Carpet 13.8 29 Seaming Hot melt seaming is required for double glue installations unless otherwise specified by the manufacturer. Do not use silicone coated seaming tape. Refer to Broadloom Carpet > Carpet Seaming > Seaming Methods > Hot Melt Seaming section of this document. 13.9 Rolling Rolling carpet to cushion is required. Refer to Broadloom Carpet > Direct Glue Down > Rolling section of this document. 13.10 Post Installation Protection is required for double glue installations.
Broadloom Carpet 14.3 30 Installation Procedures Cut seam edges with appropriate tools based on carpet manufacturer recommendations. Trim into material to eliminate possible height variation at the seam. In the case of woven goods, carefully refer to the manufacturer’s recommendation for that specific style. Seal cut edges at seams with proper seam adhesive applied as recommended by the carpet or adhesive manufacturer. Roll installed carpet according to manufacturer recommendations. 14.3.
Broadloom Carpet 31 15.0 Carpet on Stairs The following section covers proper procedures for installing carpet on stairs. 15.1 Preparation It is required that the stair tread, riser and stair nose should be clean, dry and structurally sound. The stair nose return should be rounded 3/4 to 1 inch (19 to 25 mm) to prevent sharp stair edges from cutting carpet and/or cushion, and to provide proper carpet contact for adhesive installations.
Broadloom Carpet 32 16.0 Patterned Carpet Installations The following section covers proper procedures for installing patterned carpet. 16.1 Uninstalled Patterned Carpet Carpet is a textile fabric subject to processing variations in the four pattern conditions: bow, skew/bias, elongation variation and trueness of edge. Measurement of these four conditions is performed on an uninstalled breadth/width of carpet.
Broadloom Carpet 16.6 33 Pattern Alignment Match the pattern at the midpoint of the seam’s length. Work from the seam’s midpoint to the seam ends. Bring the pattern into register using appropriate tools that might include (refer to Table I – Tools & Materials at the end of this document): · power stretcher · knee kicker · dead man · “dry” lines · stay nails · double-headed mini-stretcher (“crab stretcher”) NOTE: For patterned carpet, exercise care to ensure pattern alignment along walls.
Residential Carpet Tile 34 Residential Carpet Tile Carpet Tile defined as various shapes and sizes of carpet precut during manufacturing with applied backings. 17.0 Residential Carpet Tile Installation Due to the variation in tile size, shape, backing and installation methods (monolithic, ashlar, quarter turn, etc.) follow the carpet manufacturer’s recommendations. 17.1 Layout Refer to General Requirements > Measuring and Planning > Layout and Trimming section of this document.
Residential Carpet Tile 17.4 35 Tile Joints Tile in the completed installation should be tight but not compressed. To insure proper spacing when installing carpet tile, measure the distance covered by 10 tiles installed on the floor with no visible gaps, peaks or overlaps. The measurement should be equal to 10 times the tile size +/- 1/4 inch unless otherwise stated in the manufacturer specifications.
Definition of Terms 36 Definition of Terms Term Definition Adhesive A substance that dries to a film capable of holding materials together by surface attachment. Applying adhesive to the floor normally is accomplished with a trowel, airless spray, or roller. Adhesive transfer The degree of coverage and penetration of the applied adhesive into the back of carpet while still maintaining full coverage of the floor.
Definition of Terms 37 Term Definition Double glue down This is an installation method where carpet cushion is first adhered to the substrate, and the carpet is then adhered to the cushion using the proper adhesives. Double-headed mini-stretcher (crab stretcher) Hand device used for aligning patterns where a power stretcher cannot be used; also used for removing fullness at seams and closing gaps at seams.
Definition of Terms 38 Term Definition Pattern skew This is a distortion visible when the pattern on one side is slightly ahead of the pattern on the other side. Skew, or bias, describes pattern squareness.
Definition of Terms 39 Term Definition Seaming tape Tape used for joining two sections of carpet. [“Hot melt” tape is precoated with a thermoplastic adhesive. Adhesives may be applied separately to other types of seaming tapes.] Secondary backing Woven or non-woven fabric reinforcement laminated to the back of tufted carpet, usually with an adhesive, to enhance dimensional stability, strength, stretch resistance, and ease of handling.
Definition of Terms 40 Term Definition Tread The horizontal part (walking surface) of a stair. Trowel Hand implement used for metering and spreading adhesive to the floor or other substrate. Trueness of edge/Bow in length It is generally measured as maximum deviation from a straight line, over a defined distance, between common pattern points along the machine direction of the carpet.
Table I – Tools & Materials 41 Table I – Tools & Materials Tools A. Tape Measure (Metal) 1. Adjustable Knee Kicker 2. 50 ft. (15.2 m) 2. Double Headed Mini Stretcher B. Straight Edge 1. Rigid C. Chalk Line L. Seaming Tools 1. Awl / Row Runner 2. Cushion Back Cutter 3. Loop Pile Cutter 1. White Chalk 4. Carpet Seam Roller (Flat and Paddle) 2. Red or Blue (Substrate Only) 5. Wood / Non-Conductive Weight to follow Hot Melt Seaming Iron D. Knives and Cutters 1. Carpet Knife 6. Stay Nails M.
Table I – Tools & Materials G. Screwdrivers 42 10. First Aid Supplies 1. Phillips 11. Carpenter Square 2. Standard 12. Pencil and Note Pad H. Trowels 1. See Table II – Trowel Size Minimum Guidelines I. Rollers J. 13. Chalk Stick 14. Marking Pin 15. Thimble 1 35 lb (16 kg) 16. Curved Needle and Thread 2 50 lb (23 kg) 17. Vacuum Cleaner / Broom 3 75 lb (34 kg) 18. Dry Lines Power Stretcher 19. Knee Pads 1. Junior 2. Senior 3. Carpet Spreader Materials A. Metal and Vinyl Moldings B.
Table II – Trowel Size Minimum Guidelines 43 Table II – Trowel Size Minimum Guidelines Floor Covering / Substrate Broadloom Carpet: rough back, woven, double stick carpet to cushion Approx. Spread Rate feet² / gal. Approx. Spread Rate yards² / gal. 1/8” x 1/8” x 1/8” U or Square notch (3.2mm x 3.2mm x 3.2mm) 50 – 90 6 – 10 1/8” x 1/8” x 1/16” U notch (3.2mm x 3.2mm x 1.6mm) 45 – 75 5–8 1/8” x 1/8” x 1/8” V notch (3.2mm x 3.2mm x 3.
Table II – Trowel Size Minimum Guidelines Floor Covering / Substrate Carpet tile Applicator Size 3/8” Nap Paint Roller (9.5mm) 3/4” Nap Paint Roller (19.0mm) 44 Approx. Spread Rate feet² / gal. Approx. Spread Rate yards² / gal. 350 – 400 270 – 360 35 – 45 30 – 40 Note: Above dimensions are given as width x depth x spacing. Spread rates vary with texture and porosity of the substrate. Trowels should be held at a consistent 45–60° angle to apply adhesive. Examine notches regularly for wear.
Table III – Tack Strip 45 Table III – Tack Strip CRI 105 - STANDARD For INSTALLATION of RESIDENTIAL CARPET Copyright © 2015 by The Carpet and Rug Ins titute, Inc.
Table IV – Adhesive Types / Definitions 46 Table IV – Adhesive Types / Definitions Adhesives – Common Types Used in Carpet Installation A. Carpet Floor Adhesives 1. Latex Adhesive: Common name for adhesives used to install broadloom carpets, excluding those with vinyl backing, either directly to a substrate or over underlayment and cushion. Refer to carpet manufacturer for adhesive grade recommendation for specific backings and uses. 2.
Table V – Dew Point 47 Table V – Dew Point HOW TO USE THIS CHART: If the air temperature is 80°F and the RH is 65%, the dew point is 66°F. No coating should be applied unless the surface temperature of the slab is 71°F or higher. DEW POINT: Temperature at which moisture will condense on the surface of an object. No coatings should be applied unless surface of the concrete slab is a minimum of 5 degrees above this point.
CRI Members Contact Information 48 CRI Members Contact Information Member Website Advanced Adhesive www.aatglue.com Technologies, Inc. Atlas Carpet Mills www.atlascarpetmills.com Beaulieu Group, LLC usa.beaulieugroup.com Bentley Mills, Inc. www.bentleymills.com Bloomsburg Carpet www.bloomsburgcarpet.com Industries.Inc. Constantine-Milliken www.millikencarpet.com Daltonian Flooring, Inc. www.daltonian.com The Dixie Group, Inc. www.thedixiegroup.com Engineered Floors, LLC www.engineeredfloorsllc.