Why Do I See Carpet Seams After Installation?
While not all carpet seams are visible or obvious to the eye, they are always there none the less. When a new carpet seam is made, the carpet fibers are standing up higher than normal as a result of the seam tape pushing the carpet up from underneath and heating process trying to mend the seam together. The industry calls this “peaking” (as seen in the exaggerated image above). This is normal and to be expected according to the Carpet, Rug and Institute standards.
There are other variables that can make a carpet seam noticeable as well. Here are some examples:
A. Location of seams
Seams are a part of every installation and we strategically choose where seams are placed based on the direction of the carpet and the layout of the home. We always strive to place them in areas that will be least visible and most easily hidden. Some areas (depending on lighting conditions) will naturally make the seam visible while others help the carpet look as if it has invisible seams.
B. Sunlight from windows
In most cases, we try to align the carpet seams with the sunlight coming through the windows. When carpet seams are installed in alignment with sunlight from windows, this helps make seams far less visible to the naked eye.
However, based on the layout of the home, some of the carpet seams will need to be placed perpendicularly to the sunlight. Doing this means that the sunlight coming into that room will cause the carpet seam to cast a shadow on itself because of the peaking (described at the top of this blog post).
C. Type of carpet (Cut pile, Pattern, Berber, etc)
- Cut pile or plush carpets (typically 40 ounces or more) show seams the least.
- Berber and pattern carpets show seams the most. Pattern and berber carpets have such a tight weave that seams can show in all areas regardless of sunlight or direction of carpet.
- Sheer carpets, wool, seagrass and sisal also show seams quite easily.
D. Good News! Seam peaking will go down in time.
After the carpet has been installed it can take 3-6 weeks for the seam peaking to fully settle down. This means that over time the seam tape and carpet will become lower and less visible as you walk on it and vacuum. This allows for the carpet to truly fall into place.
E. Exception to the Rule: Some Seams Will Always Be Visible:
If a new carpet is installed and seamed with an existing carpet, the seam will always be visible. This applies even if the new carpet being installed is the exact same manufacture, style & color as what is already installed. This has more to do with carpet dye lot and slight color variations rather than the actual seam itself.
Here are a few photos of our installation teams working hard at creating great carpet seams for our customers.
Lastly, if you want to watch a step by step guide on carpet seams, watch this video below:
