Kraus | Floors with More

Kraus carpet must be installed in accordance with Carpet & Rug Institute standards CRI-104 (commercial carpet) or CRI-105 (residential carpet), as elaborated below.

Verify style, pattern, and color prior to installation. It is imperative that this be accomplished before any cuts are made to avoid unnecessary claims.

We use a variety of tufting technologies; however, all our products share a common characteristic with regard to rows of face fiber. All our products have tufting rows that will be straight and not staggered.

We therefore require all seams to be trimmed. No pattern carpet can be matched unless this row cutting requirement is strictly adhered to on all seams.

Our procedure is simple and effective if the following points are observed:

•	Lay all pieces flat and allow to acclimate to "standard" conditions. (CRI-104-1996/ 5.3; 6.4; 8.2…)
•	Using a broad straight bit screwdriver, press forward gently opening the row.
•	Using a loop pile or cushion cutter, (e.g. Roberts 10-152 or 10-156) follow the open row with the cutter, keeping the trimmer blade close to the usable side of the carpet.
•	On a patterned carpet, for easiest match, trim on pattern center if at all possible.
•	Row cutting works best on the side seams and under ideal conditions will also work on butt seams.

The Carpet and Rug Institute Standard 104-1996 requires the proper sealing of ALL seams on all installed carpet.

It is required that all seams on glue down (CRI 104-8.5), double glue down (CRI-104-9) and stretch installations (CRI 104-11.6) be sealed using a good quality seaming adhesive.

ON ALL GLUE DOWN SEAMS: A single bead of solvent or acrylic based seam sealer must be applied, the bead should be “tall” enough to “meet” the primary backing yarn bundles and secondary backing, but never contact the face fiber. Once the bead is applied to the first edge, the second edge should immediately be pressed against the first edge to provide an immediate transfer. Seam sealer will “flash off” and “skin over” quickly. (See also CRI 104-1996 8.3 and 9.4).

Failure to seal seams will void the warranties.

CRI 104 is endorsed by the Canadian Carpet Institute.

PLAN YOUR WORK & WORK YOUR PLAN!

In order to pattern match it is necessary to adhere to the following standards:

•	Always “dry lay” all pieces prior to starting the glue spread or hot melt process.
•	Arrange all pieces to your best advantage thereby working the closest patterns together.
•	An easy way to determine which cuts will match best is to count 30 patterns and compare the measurements to determine sequence.

Pattern match

Example:

Drop A: 30 patterns measure 15’0” Drop B: 30 patterns measures 15’2”

Drop C: 30 patterns measure 14’11” Drop D: 30 patterns measures 15’1”

The proper judgment in this example is to place the drops as follows to diminish the pattern elongations:
C: 14’11”, A: 15’0”, D: 15’1”, B: 15’2"

Experience has shown that most carpets easily stretch 1.5%-2% with power stretchers. The deviation between Drop A and Drop C is only half of 1%, thereby making a match achievable.

•	Always match and work patterns from the center towards the ends.
•	Step back frequently and sight down the diagonal lines across seams if possible.
•	On glue down and stretch installations, it may be necessary to stretch “short” patterns into register to achieve a match.
•	Make sure the pattern is properly trimmed (row cut).
•	As per the CRI 104 and 105 the use of a power stretcher is mandatory.

PLEASE REMEMBER: This carpet is synthetic and will not shrink to fit. You must plan your work so you can always stretch the short patterns into register with the long ones! (i.e. “D” stretches to match “B”, “A” stretches to match “D”, “C” stretches to match “A”)