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Tackless strip is just tackstrip, right? No!
Tackstrip has a very important role in the installation of carpet in many
applications. Following is an explanation of the types of tackstrip,
its various uses, and tips to remember when selecting and installing
tackstrip. Q.E.P./Roberts 10-750 Carpet Installation Tool Kit
How to Install Tackless strip
Correctly
by Michael Lassetter
June 10, 2009
A section
of architectural tackstrip abutted correctly to the
Padding
Types of Tackless strip
First, lets identify the various types of
tackstrip. They each have an important role to play in the installation of
carpet. Until tackstrip was developed in the
1930s, most residential floors were made of hardwood. Carpets that
were available were either loose laid or turned and tacked and fastened to
the floor with upholstery tacks. The new innovation of tackless
carpet gripper revolutionized the carpet industry by making carpet both
easier and more economical to Install. Today, the product is known
as smoothedge, carpet strip, tackless strip, gripper, tackless carpet
gripper and tackstrip. Whatever you call it, there are several
important factors to consider when selecting the tackstrip that is most
appropriate for the job. These include the width of the strip, the
type of anchoring nail, the length of the strip, the type of wood, the pin
height, the bevel angle and if aluminum strip is considered, the type of
substrate and the height of the carpet.
1. 1-inch wide and -inch
thick with two (2) rows of pins -- meets the minimum requirement The type
of tackstrip that is recommended by CFI, the CRI-105 and the CRI-104 is
the most commonly used. The plywood is one full inch wide.
Front and back rows of pins are moved farther apart for extra strength and
easier hooking with heavily-latexed backed carpets or thick
Padding.
2. 1-3/4 inch wide and -inch thick with (3) rows of pins
Architectural/Commercial
This is the
type of tackstrip used for difficult installations. Three rows of
pins are spaced equally over a 1-3/4 inch wide strip. Anchoring
nails are positioned closer to the wall to prevent the strip from lifting
during stretching. This is the tackstrip to
use when holding power is required both commercially and
residentially. According to standards, Use architectural tackstrip
for stretches exceeding 30-feet in length or width, heavily-latexed backed
carpets most woven and Berber style carpet.
3. 1-1/4 inch wide and
-inch thick with (3) rows of pins Tri-Tack tackstrip Introduced in the
mid-1990s, Tri-Tack is the fastest growing type of tackstrip sold
today. With a full 3 rows of pins set in a 1-1/4 inch wide plywood
strip, it is an economical alternative to double-stripping and full width
commercial tackstrip. Tri-Tack provides extra insurance on difficult
residential installations and is excellent for use on Berbers. It is
available in pre-nailed wood, pre-nailed concrete, heavy-duty concrete and
dual purpose pre-nailed.
Pin Height
All types of Tackless strip are available in several
different pin heights in order to accommodate even the most exacting
carpet
installation requirements.
Long Pin
(C-Pin) -- -inch pin height is used for carpets with rough or heavily
latexed thick backings where extra penetration is required.
Medium
Pin (E-Pin) -- 7/32-inch pin height of the most commonly stocked
tackstrip.
Short Pin (D-Pin) -- 3/16-inch pin height to use with
dense pile carpets to avoid pins penetrating through the face pile of the
carpet.
Extra Short Pin (J-Pin) -- 5/32-inch pin height to use
with low-profile carpet, wovens, fine velours, and velvets with thin
backings.
Length of the Tackless strip
The four-foot tackstrip is the traditional length
because the American standard plywood panel is 4 x 8 feet. Plywood
panels that are imported from Russia are 5 x 5 feet, which require fewer
lengths per installation, less cutting time and is often more economical
than the four-foot tackstrip.
Bevel Angle of the Tackstrip
Bevel angles on most brands of tackstrip vary
between 19-degrees and 30-degrees. The higher angles create a larger
space to tuck the carpet between the tackstrip and the wall.
Aluminum Tackstrip
Aluminum tackstrip is an effective alternative when
Shorter than J-pins, aluminum strips 1/8-inch pins are angled to
grip through the carpet instead of sticking up through it. Aluminum
carpet tackstrip can be installed with any carpet, but it is particularly
useful with low-profile carpet. The tackstrip is 1-inch wide, over
240 pins per 4-foot length and contains a groove for adhesive beading when
nailing is not feasible. It will not rust or rot and is made with
100% high strength aluminum.
Problems That Can Occur When Using the
Incorrect Tackstrip
1. The one-inch strip contains
nails that are farther from the wall. Tackstrip that is
narrower in width can cause more missed hits and increased damage to the
wood or painted wallbase.
2. Tackstrip that is narrower than
one-inch in width makes it more difficult to attach the carpet to the
tackstrip, especially with heavily latexed carpet backings or over a thick
Padding. Note: Cushion should never be higher than the tackstrip.
3. Narrower widths of tackstrip are not a strong as
wider ones, causing a greater risk of broken tackstrips and an increased
need for double stripping.
Tackstrip Use
Appropriate tackstrip must be used for different
substrates and carpet backings.
Gypcrete, also called elasticel or
acoustical concrete: tackstrip is available prenailed with a 1-1/4 inch
spiral shank concrete nail for this specialty concrete.
Architectural and Tri-tack tackstrip are to be used with most
woven carpets, carpets with heavily latexed backs, berber style carpets
and on any areas that exceed 30-feet in length. It is acceptable to
double the 1-inch tackstrip.
Installation of Tackstrip
1. The tackstrip is securely fastened around the perimeter of the
room with the pins pointing toward the wall.
2. The gully,
which is the space between the edge of the tackstrip and the wall, is
slightly less than the thickness of the carpet; not to exceed 3/8-inch.
3. Install the tackstrip to follow the exact contours of the
walls. The tackstrip must be cut to the proper lengths to
accomplish this.
4. A minimum of two (2) nails must be used
to secure each section of tackstrip to the floor.
5.
The tackstrip may be glued to certain types of flooring when nails are not
an option, such as with radiant heated floors or drainage systems.
Tackstrip nails cannot be driven into conduit or tubing.
6.
Urethane construction adhesive sets up quickly and is stronger than normal
construction adhesive.
7. Tackstrip can also be installed using
hot-melt adhesive designed for this procedure.
8. Carpet should
never be stapled to the tackstrip.
9. When installing
carpet onto all substrates, the tackstrip must be
properly secured.
10. Do not place tackstrip in doorways or across
openings to rooms where the carpet flows continuously and is not
interrupted by different types of flooring surfaces.
11. Avoid
installing tackstrip to join two carpets at an inside doorway or across
door openings.
12. The carpet sections are to be seamed.
Tackstrip Recommendations for
Double-Glue Installations
1. Tackstrip can be used,
but is not necessary. If tackstrip is not used, it is recommended
that wallbase be installed. If vinyl or rubber wallbase is used, it
must have toe.
2. If tackstrip is used, the carpet edges can be
tucked into the gully and secured without the use of wallbase. This
procedure positions and holds the carpet in place during the curing of the
adhesive.
3. The use of tackstrip is determined by the thickness
of the cushion and carpet to assure that the pins do not penetrate through
the carpet. If tackstrip is used, the
Padding must be at least as
thick as the tackstrip or at least -inch in height or it will create a
picture framing appearance because the cushion is thinner than the
tackstrip.
4. Tackstrip also assists during patterned carpet
alignment by maintaining stretch as needed.
5. If difficult
situations should arise, the use of tackstrip will assist in solving the
problem.
6. Use shorter pinned tackstrip with lower-pile height
carpets. If not available, shorten the height of the pins by using
binding tape, ActionBac backing or similar products.
Tackstrip Recommendations for Aligning
Patterns
Matching patterned carpet is ALWAYS a
challenge. The tools that CFI has introduced or re-introduced to installers in the last 16+ years have
certainly made a difference. Should you encounter pattern elongation
in a direct-glue installation; a situation that exists when a pattern on a
breadth of carpet is larger than the pattern on the adjoining breadth, use
the information that appeared in an earlier issue of Floor Covering
Installer. This method is designed to take the place of stay nails.
Tackstrip on Stairs
1. Tackstrip placement is very important and must be
secured to the riser and the tread.
2. The gully is less than
twice the thickness of the carpet.
3. Measure the width of the
riser to determine the length of the tackstrip.
4. The tackstrip
pins point down on the riser, approximately to 1 above the tread.
5. The proper gully must be maintained throughout the
tackstrip installation.
6. Secure the tackstrip to the tread
with the pins pointing toward the riser above.
7. Next, secure the
tackstrip evenly around each spindle, leaving a gully of 3/8 or less.
8. Hold each section in place with a minimum of two nails,
pointing the tackstrip pins toward the spindles.
As you can
see, tackstrip and the correct application of the tackstrip are the
trademarks of a professional flooring installer. If you have discovered
additional uses for tackstrip, let CFI know so we can share this
information with other installers.
Michael Lassetter
Michael Lassetter is National Director of Technical
Services for CFI. He is the recipient of the Charles R. Gress Award, CFI
Certified Intstaller #3411, and is very proud of his long association with
CFI.