How to Put Carpet Seams Together

Multiple pieces of carpet are generally needed to complete a carpet installation inside a home. At times, the carpet seams will be hidden under door thresholds or flooring transitions. Other times, the seam will fall inside of a room or hallway. These types of seams require special installation techniques to make them invisible to people using the carpeted area. Patience and multiple tools are required to ensure the seam bonds correctly and remains sealed long after the installation is complete.

Chalk line
Row cutter
Seaming tape
Utility knife
Seaming iron
Heavy carpet roller

Instructions

- 1
  Overlap the two pieces of carpet entering the seam. Pull the top layer of carpet until its end sits 3 to 4 inches past the edge of the lower carpet.
- 2
  Stretch a chalk line along the exposed edge of the carpet. Snap the chalk line to create a cut line. Remove the line from the carpet. Align the blade of a row cutter with the chalk line. Allow the side of the cutter to side tight to the edge of the top piece of carpet. Push the cutter along the line to cut the bottom carpet to length. Pull the cut piece of carpet from the seam.
- 3
  Lift one side of the carpet seam. Lay seam tape under the lifted section of carpet. Cut the seam tape to length by sliding a utility knife across the tape. Lay the lifted side of the carpet on the seam tape. Pull the carpet ends together until they fit tight.
- 4
  Plug in a seaming iron. Allow the iron to reach operating temperature. Lift one side of the carpet seam. Align the end of the iron with the far edge of the seam. Lower the lifted section of carpet. Pull the iron along the seam to heat the tape -- activating the adhesive. Push the carpet onto the tape by following the iron with a heavy carpet roller.
- 5
  Unplug the iron. Continue rolling the seam until the seam tape cools and holds the seam in place.

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