RLA Information Bulletin - Carpet and Carpet Tile Install
RLA Group recommend the following application tips for a successful and professional
installation.
Which is the most suitable type of carpet installation for your project ?
There are Different Methods of Installing Broadloom Carpet and Carpet tiles.
• There are three methods of installing broadloom carpet – Double Bond,
Direct Stick or Conventional installations
• There are two types of installation for Carpet Tiles –Direct Stick or Double Bond
Job Site Conditions
To be in accordance with the relevant Australian Standard “Floor Coverings Resilient Sheet and Tiles - Laying and Maintenance Practices” and “Textile Floor
Coverings - Installation Practice”.
All surfaces to be bonded shall be absorbent, dry, smooth, sound and clean. Subfloors
must also be free of wax, grease, paint, previously used adhesive, polish, PVC based
membranes and hydrostatic pressure. Should subfloor preparation be required the
appropriate levelling compound, primers and moisture barrier products within the RLA
Group and Roberts range should be used.
The minimum subfloor temperature before commencing surface preparation and
adhesive application is 10oC.
Double Bond Carpet Installation
Double Bond Carpet Installation is a preferred method of installation of tufted, woven,
fusion bonded or Action Back carpets particularly in commercial and heavy traffic
areas. The dual bond underlay is designed for this purpose.
All highly absorbent concrete subfloor surfaces are to be primed with Roberts 400
Floor & Wall Primer prior to the application of the Roberts 656 Pressure Sensitive
Adhesive. It is recommended the double bond underlay be adhered to the sub floor
using a pressure sensitive adhesive such as Roberts 656, Polymer 999, RLA GS444
Pressure Sensitive Adhesive. Alternatively you can adhere the underlay to the subfloor
with a Carpet Adhesive such as Roberts 95, Roberts 85, Roberts 100 Carpet
Adhesives.
The carpet is adhered to the dual bond underlay using an adhesive most suitable to
the type of carpet, location, anticipated traffic and cleaning volume.
Some RLA adhesives suitable for use in double bond applications are Roberts 59,
Roberts 95 Extra Tack , Roberts 85 Fast Tack and Roberts 100 Adhesive.
The carpet joins are seam together with Roberts R50-350 double bond carpet seaming
tape.
Direct Stick Carpet Installation
Direct stick carpet installation is an economical method of installing tufted, woven,
fusion bonded or Action Bac carpets. For highly absorbent substrates RLA strongly
recommend priming of the sub floor with Roberts 400 Floor & Wall Primer prior to the
application of the Roberts Carpet Adhesive.
RLA Adhesives suitable for use in direct installations are Roberts 59, Roberts 95 Extra
Tack Roberts 85 Fast Tack and Roberts 100 Adhesive.
Conventional Carpet Installation
This is the traditional method of installing carpet in both domestic and commercial
areas. Carpet gripper can be fixed around the outside perimeters of each room using
RLA 1018 FAST Set Polyurethane adhesive or RLA TRU- Grip Polyurethane.
Carpet underlay is laid to the body of the room and can be adhered down with Roberts
679 Latex. The carpet is laid over the underlay and stretched off the carpet
gripper removing puckering and wrinkles. Any seams in the carpet may be joined with
heat bond carpet joining tape such as Roberts 50-321 GT, Polymer 121 PRM or
Polymer 135 Release Tape.
Silicone Release Tape, mainly for domestic or light commercial use or Roberts 50-331
Super Tape for commercial carpet installations.
Carpet Tiles Installation
For highly absorbent substrates RLA strongly recommend priming of the sub floor with
Roberts 400 Floor & Wall Primer prior to the application of the Roberts Carpet
Adhesive
Spread Roberts 656, Roberts 585, Polymer 999, RLA GS 300 and GS444 Pressure
Sensitive Adhesive by “V” notched trowel, or rolling to the surface of the subfloor.
Pressure Sensitive Adhesives are usually used in dry mode, ie allow the adhesive film
to completely dry and become clear before installing the carpet tiles.
A stronger bond can be achieved however, by laying the flooring material into the
adhesive film prior to it drying completely. This will cause transfer of the adhesive film
to the back of the flooring.
It is not good practice to leave the adhesive film exposed to possible contaminates,
such as dust for long periods before installation.
Roll the carpet tiles within one hour of installation.
Double Bond Carpet Tile Installation
All highly absorbent concrete subfloor surfaces are to be primed with Roberts 400
Floor & Wall Primer prior to the application of the Pressure Sensitive Adhesive.
The double bond underlay should be stuck to the sub floor using a pressure sensitive
adhesive such as Roberts 656, Roberts 585, Polymer 999, RLA GS 300 and GS444
Pressure Sensitive Adhesive.
Carpet Tiles are adhered the double bond underlay using Roberts 656, Polymer 999
and RLA GS 300 Pressure Sensitive Adhesive.
For installation of carpet tiles on double bond underlays a 1.6mm “V1” notched trowel
is recommended. Depending upon the porosity of the underlay a second application of
adhesive may be required or alternatively a 2.4mm “V2” notched trowel is
recommended
The tiles may be laid into the adhesive once it has dried to a clear tacky adhesive film.
This will form a semi permanent bond between allowing them to be easily removed if
repairs or replacement is required without damaging the double bond underlay or tiles.
Alternatively the carpet tiles can be laid into the semi -wet film of adhesive (half wet
and half clear). It forms a stronger bond between the carpet tile and double bond
underlay.
Issued: July 2016