Why does nobody talk about how messy carpet seam tape can get?

Installing carpet seams should be simple, but that tape always ends up everywhere. I had a job last month where the tape stuck to my knee kicker and the subfloor. It took me forever to scrub off the sticky stuff. Now I carry a bottle of adhesive remover just for this mess. But it still adds like twenty minutes to each seam. I wish they made a less messy tape or a better applicator.

3 comments

3 Comments

leor371d ago

That wax paper trick from @terryj45 is smart for cleanup. Does it ever slip out from under the tape while you're working the seam, though? I'd worry about it moving and making the bond weak.

terryj4515d ago

Seriously, that tape is a nightmare. I tried the heat gun trick and nearly set the seam on fire, so maybe go easy on the temperature. What saved me was putting down a strip of wax paper under the tape before I pressed it. The adhesive doesn't stick to the paper, so you can peel it up clean later. Not perfect, but it cuts down on the mess big time.

ward.joel15d ago

Heat the tape up with a heat gun for just a few seconds before you peel the paper off, it makes the adhesive way less aggressive. I keep a cheap one in my truck just for seams now. Still gets gunk on the kicker sometimes, but a quick scrape with a putty knife right after gets most of it before it sets up like concrete. That trick with the adhesive remover is solid, but hitting it while it's still warm and soft saves my sanity.