Most people are a bit confused when it comes to carpet binding tape. Not sure what’s involved or what to do, they just try and hope for the best. This guide will tell you everything you need to know about carpet binding tape, from why it is important and where to get it to setting up a trade show booth using this amazing material with many benefits.
Carpet binding tape is an important tool that gives a finishing touch to any trade show or carpet flooring booth. It is becoming an essential part of business as well as home decor. It is quick to fix and even easier to apply, reducing the need for power tools and reducing environmental impact.
The increased demand for carpet binding tape can be attributed to its practicality and ease of use in many sectors. From small businesses through medium-sized organisations to multinationals, it has filled a specific niche in all industries requiring quick-fixing floors.
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Types of carpet binding tape:
There are two main types of carpet binding tape – liquid-based and hot melt based. The former can be adhered easily with glue or a few minutes of ironing, while the latter requires heat guns, as well as materials specific for the application of flux, cored wire.
Let’s begin with the Hot melt carpet binding tape which is available in two types, including glue tapes and heat-activated tapes. Most of these tapes are self-adhesive but you may also get options like appying glue separately.
Glue-bound tapes:
Glue-bound tapes are cheaper than other tapes. They leave adhesive residue when removed, so they cannot be reused again and again with different substrates or substrates of varying thicknesses (suede flooring, for example). They are neither flexible nor pliable but have an adhesive backing that adheres to the surface of the carpet, making application possible.
Having said this, they generally provide a more forgiving following service and cover larger carpet areas in a single application. Some users have experienced issues with their ability to adhere when using them on sheared carpet fibers (wool/silk).
Heat-activated tapes:
These work with heat or moisture. They’re heat-activated glue and FDA-approved for many surfaces. They’re affixed by pressing the adhesive and rolling out a thin, tight, continuous tape to cover an area.
Cold bonded tapes:
They have a paper backing that allows easy release and is attached to the carpet fibers with a magnet, so they don’t leave any residue behind when removed from the surface.
The adhesive is applied directly to the carpet fibers without any backing or remover needed when you remove it later on, which makes them great for areas where small children are running around in your house. At the same time, you’re gone all day long because they won’t be chewing on it!
Why is carpet binding tape important?
Carpet binding tape is important because it protects the carpet of your booth, prevents people from tripping over the edges, and allows you to move your booth around easily. This means it is a vital piece of kit for any company or individual looking to hold a trade show or exhibition. Most companies choose to buy carpet binding tape in bulk so they can use it again and again.
To set up an effective display, it is important to use carpet binding tapes. All you need to do is lay your carpet on the floor and use this tape to secure it. The tape should be fixed to the carpet every foot or so, depending on the size of your carpet.
How to use carpet binding tape?
Carpet binding tape can be used on any type of carpet, but polyester is the most popular material. When using polyester, ensure it lays flat on top of the other materials first. Then apply a piece of adhesive tape over it and allow it to dry for about five minutes. Then you can put your carpet down, ensuring it is well creased. With regular carpet, you will need to remove any backing from the adhesive tape before laying your carpet down; otherwise, this will not work either. In terms of the style of binding tape you choose, seam binding or a premium quality double-sided adhesive will work best.
Here are some simple instructions for using carpet binding tapes at home:
- Either spray some adhesive or use a glue stick depending on the type of tape you selected;
- It is important to apply the adhesive in a cross pattern to the carpet piece;
- Another alternative is to apply the glue on one side of the carpet and then press it onto another surface for about five minutes;
- Holding down for about five minutes is good, as this will create a bond;
- Allow it to dry for about five minutes, after which you can store it away in a cool and dry place (never keep it in direct sunlight);
- Next, you will have to remove any backing from your adhesive tape before placing this on your carpet to make sure that it sticks properly;
- Apply the other adhesive tape on the same carpet piece and allow it to dry before use;
- Always ensure that you buy high-quality adhesive tapes to make sure that they stick properly, given how expensive your carpet is;
- Do not use any glue unless you are sure it will work because this can ruin your carpet;
Just follow these steps in the right order, and you will get the desired results in no time!
Frequently Asked Questions ( FAQs)
Q.1 What is the difference between hot melt and glue bind tapes?
Ans: The difference lies in the adhesive type and is based on the category of tape to be used. Hot melt tapes are typically used on hard surfaces such as plastic, wood, and metal as they tend to harden quickly upon cooling down.
Glue tapes are used when you need sticky material that adheres once pressed against a surface or touched by a fingertip. They can be easily removed at will with water or soapy water. Thus, they stay put while being moved around with ease, unlike hot melt tapes, which tend to become extremely tough when the temperature is lowered (e.g., below 40 °C).
Q.2 Why is the glue type of tape important?
Ans: The ability to be removed easily on the surface being taped can play a vital role in whether you will use it or not. Using hot melt tape may result in an extremely thick residue on the surface when it’s finally removed from there, which usually ends up causing damage to non-hardened materials.
Q 3 How can you avoid the residue left by the hot melt tape?
Ans: There’s an easy way to solve this problem using a simple and effective technique: add talcum powder/graphite powder on the surface before taping it with the tape in question. The waxy layer helps prevent residue marks on non-hardened materials, allowing hot melt tapes to be used on plastic, wood, and metal. It can also be a great furniture polish for any tiled or laminated surface.
Q 4 What type of carpet is best suited for binding?
Ans: Binding tape works best on carpets made of polyester or other synthetic blends as they can withstand extra weight better.
It’s not possible to use binding tape on carpets made of cotton or wool as they are less stiff and tend to bend, which doesn’t allow for easy application of the binding material. Carpets that move, like those in a theater, benefit from the binding tape since it keeps them from getting dirty easily when people walk on it.
Q 5 How much binding tape should I use?
Ans: This is a very straightforward question, as it is important to remember that less tape means more money spent.
If you plan on using binding tape on your carpet, apply sufficient amounts of it on the surface. If you use adhesive tape, add around eight inches of it from one end and back to another end of the carpet.
Binding tapes, however, come in different sizes and diameters depending on your needs. Therefore, for full-size carpets or floors (more than 1 square meter), add 16 inches of adhesive tape and for smaller carpets or floors, add 8 inches.
Conclusion:
Carpet-binding tape is a necessary product for businesses, homes, and even schools. It’s the perfect way to protect your carpet or any other flooring material and keep them in place. Using carpet binding tapes is an excellent idea because it allows people to move their furniture around without making huge holes in the carpet. Thus, it has to be one of the essential products you will ever need.