Finally saved a tricky seam in a rental unit today

I was doing a bedroom in a second floor apartment near downtown Portland. The customer had this cheap loop carpet that kept unraveling every time I tried to seam it. After three tries and some muttered swearing, I used a hot glue gun to tack down the loose loops before cutting. It held perfect, and the homeowner was thrilled when she came by for a look. Anyone else dealt with loop carpet that just refuses to cooperate?

3 comments

3 Comments

jamesf261mo ago

Wait, hot glue on loops actually works? I always thought that'd ruin it but now I gotta try it.

holly_sanchez751mo ago

and honestly once you get the hang of it you'll never go back. the trick is to use a low temp gun so you don't melt the cheap loops, and wait like 15 seconds before ramming your bead down on it. i fucked up my first few tries cause i was impatient but now i've got a bracelet that's held up through three concerts and a dishwasher cycle by accident. just don't glob it on too thick or you'll get this ugly crusty edge that catches on everything.

lucaslee1mo ago

I read somewhere that some installers use a dab of clear silicone caulk on stubborn loops instead of hot glue, said it gives a little more flexibility without that hard edge. Might be worth a shot if the hot glue ever leaves a crusty line, though I haven't tried it myself. The low temp gun trick sounds key, I've melted a few loops on cheap carpet before and it's a pain to hide. Glad it worked out for you either way, loop carpet can be a real headache.