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Carpet Installation Techniques Flashcards

7 cards from real CFI practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Carpet Installation Techniques flashcards as text

  1. What is the purpose of using a knee kicker BEFORE using a power stretcher during carpet installation?

    Answer: To tack the carpet to the strip along one wall to anchor it for power stretching

    The knee kicker is used to hook the carpet onto the tackless strips along starting walls, anchoring it so the power stretcher can stretch it toward the opposite wall.

  2. When installing carpet over a cushion (pad), the seams in the pad should be:

    Answer: Taped together and offset from carpet seams

    Pad seams should be taped to prevent movement and offset from carpet seams to avoid a double weak point in the installation.

  3. The CFI recommends that tackless strips be installed at what distance from the wall?

    Answer: Equal to the carpet thickness

    Tackless strips should be installed at a distance from the wall equal to the thickness of the carpet so the tucked edge fills the gap neatly.

  4. What is 'peaking' in a carpet seam, and what causes it?

    Answer: A raised ridge along the seam caused by excessive adhesive or pad beneath

    Peaking is a visible ridge along a seam caused by too much adhesive buildup, pad edges meeting under the seam, or improper cutting.

  5. Which type of seam tape requires a seam iron for activation during carpet installation?

    Answer: Hot-melt seam tape

    Hot-melt seam tape contains a thermoplastic adhesive that is activated by the heat of a seam iron, bonding the carpet backing pieces together.

  6. When installing berber or loop-pile carpet, why must the installer pay special attention to seam placement and cutting?

    Answer: Cut loops at seams can unravel and runs are visible

    Cutting through loop pile at a seam can cause loops to unravel or 'run,' and any mismatch in the loop pattern is very visible.

  7. What is the minimum recommended overlap when using a seam iron and hot-melt tape to join two pieces of carpet?

    Answer: No overlap — edges butt together flush

    When using hot-melt tape, carpet edges should butt together tightly with no overlap — both edges rest flat on the tape center.