A carpet adhesive, also known as carpet glue, is often used instead of carpet tacks for keeping a carpet well grounded and in place. It is an excellent choice for installing a wall-to-wall carpet and stairway carpeting. These adhesives come in two main types.
There are adhesives that come pre-applied to carpets. These adhesive-backed carpets make carpet installation a simple matter. Other adhesives come in a spreadable form and must be applied to the carpet backing with a trowel or a roller.
The spreadable type of carpet adhesive is more versatile and can be used for a wide range of carpeting. It may be used for smooth-backed carpets, coarse-backed carpets, soft underlay, urethane laminated underlay, felt-backed vinyl, carpet tiles, and so on. It is necessary to match the right type of spreadable adhesive to a particular type of carpet backing.
If the carpet adhesive and carpet backing combination is not correct, the carpet installation will be less than perfect. The type of adhesive to use also depends to a large extent on the type of substrate on which the carpet is to be laid. It is important for the adhesive to bond well with the substrate.
Some high performance,commercial adhesives bond well with cement sheet underlays and concrete. Others may bind well with plywood and hardboard. Some versatile adhesives may be used with all the mentioned types of floors.
It is a good idea to check out the different carpet adhesive products available in the market. Most of these usually offer detailed information on the kind of carpets and substrates the adhesive can be used with. It might also help to get advise from a professional carpet installation firm if necessary.
Many modern carpet adhesive companies are going green. Their products use water as the vehicle and are generally non-toxic and non-flammable. The other ingredients, such as binders, fillers, preservatives and viscosity controls, are also safe and less volatile.
Carpet adhesives can come in a white, off-white, and creamy paste forms. The adhesive can be acrylic based or synthetic rubber based. Even when touted as safe, it is best to handle it wearing gloves and avoid contact with the skin and eyes.
Before applying the carpet adhesive, it is advisable to to test the substrate for moisture. The presence of moisture may prevent the adhesive from setting effectively. Once the adhesive is spread, the carpet should be laid on immediately, positioned and rolled with a heavy roller.
Once this is done, the adhesive should be left to dry properly. Avoid walking on the carpeted area for a day or two. The adhesive, depending on the quality, will usually keep the carpet firmly in place for several years.