Dual Solutions for Carpet

F. Ball technical service officer Jason Tatton on having the best of both worlds when choosing adhesives for carpet installations.

When installing carpet over large areas that will be subject to heavy use, such as hotel corridors and events venues, contractors will typically require an adhesive that will develop a high bond strength to hold floorcoverings firmly in place over the lifetime of an installation. Carpet and underlay installed with this kind of adhesive will require mechanical removal when they need replacing. However, there is an alternative solution that makes things easier for areas that require regular refurbishment.

Dual-bond systems have been developed, utilising adhesives with different characteristics, including ones designed to create a peelable bond, to prevent floorcoverings or underlay moving laterally when subject to normal foot traffic but allow them to be easily lifted without damaging the subfloor.

For example, Styccobond F40 dries to form a transparent, permanently tacky coating to provide a release bond for underlays. This can be part of a dual-bond system, whereby the carpet is then adhered to the underlay using a specialist adhesive for textile floorcoverings, such as Styccobond F3, which will develop the high bond strength required to withstand expected levels of wear.

Permanent bond

Styccobond F3 is a water-based rubber/resin flooring adhesive that offers excellent wet grab and rapidly builds up a high bond strength. This delivers a flooring installation that won’t ruck, move or lift throughout its working life, making it suitable for areas that are expected to be subject to high foot traffic.

The adhesive is suitable for installing a wide range of textile floorcoverings, including hessian, felt, secondary latex and rubber foam backed carpets, as well as cork tiles up to 3.2mm thick. It can withstand wet cleaning, which is essential for maintaining the appearance of carpeted venues. The adhesive offers excellent wet grab, rapidly builds up a high bond strength and is protected against bio-degradation.

Both Styccobond F40 and Styccobond F3 are suitable for use over normal underfloor heating systems and approved for use in marine flooring installations.