One 'n' Roro, otherwise spot on
Australian Standards 2455.1 makes no reference to sisal carpet installations.
For particular product installations (away from the commonly found tufted and woven products) the textile manufacturers installation specifications shall be followed.
This is a spec of one manufacturer/distributor in Australia. Excuse the length, editing it may cause confusion/misinterpretation.
And I'll comment here, cos I know plenty won't make it to the bottom!
IF this specification relates to the carpet in the above pics, it's been laid correctly (and I cannot say I agree with it, but let's stick to facts).
'No cross joins' can't see any.
'Heat bond tape to be used' evident
'Architectural smoothedge' also evident
'Jute or jute/hair combo underlay (padding for you guys)' a reconstituted fibre underlay has been used on this install, which has similar, if not
superior property's to jute (alone) underlay.
So
IF this sisal carpet (sic) is supplied with the installation specs below, the layer did the job correctly (and I'm having trouble saying that)
It would be an interesting case if it went to court
Did the client do their due diligence in selecting this floor covering?
Did the retailer specify with 'fit for intended purpose' in mind?
Did the manufacturer produce a product that is 'fit for intended purposes' and did they give sufficient thought to the installation guidelines?
Did the layer follow installation guidelines, and if so, did he also use experience, training and industry knowledge in installing this product so as also to be 'fit for intended purpose'?
Did the carpet cleaner follow guidelines for cleaning this textile, and did he also use experience, training and industry knowledge in cleaning this product so as also to be 'fit for intended purpose'
And the installation specs;
Installation Guide for Sisal & Coir Natural Fibre Carpets
There are two methods of installing natural fibre carpet. Below are some general points on
installation, but should you have any enquiries you can contact a Style Plantation outlet
closest to you.
We do not recommend Cross Joining of our material.
Method 1. Direct Stick or Double Bond Method
Prepare the floor as you would for any traditional carpet direct stick installation.
For the best finish, install carpet gripper/smoothedge and glue double bond slab underlay
down following the manufacture’s instructions ensuring that the underfelt joins do not
coincide with the carpet joins.
Roll the carpet out and cut it in roughly so that it is flat, but leave the seams over lapped. Pull
back one half of each width either side of the join and spread the adhesive following the
manufacture’s instructions, but leave a gap of 15cm either side of the join free of adhesive.
Drop both sides of the carpet on to the adhesive and then use a heavy roller to roll the carpet
into the adhesive. This will ensure a good bond is achieved.
When the main body of the installation is glued to the floor, double cut in the seams, then
open up the seam in lengths of 2 metres at a time and repeat the gluing process, when you
have glued the second lot of 2 metres, then go back and roll the first 2 metres of joining, and
repeat this process until seam is completed.
Recommended adhesives: Holdfast SG 226, Robert’s 6037, Intercover 603 or any recognized
outdoor artificial grass adhesive.
Coverage: Most adhesives will give you approximately 2 square metres to 1 litre of adhesive
but this depends on the sub-floor surface, if you have any doubts at all about the absorbency
of the sub-floor use a floor sealer (see adhesive manufactures specifications) prior to
installation.
Method 2. On Quality Underfelt with Carpet Gripper
Prepare floor as you would for any traditional carpet installation over an underlay.
Install carpet gripper/smoothedge and underfelt, ensuring that the underfelt joins
do not coincide with the carpet joins. Installing Coir Carpet
There are two ways of joining Coir together, the first method below has be done for decades
and is the most widely used method, the second is a method that IFA have developed over
many years, but you must adhere to the guidelines set down, if you take short cuts in any
way this method of joining will fail.
(A) Roll the carpet out and cut it in roughly so that it is flat, butting the seams together
selvedge to selvedge. To join the Coir, turn one of the sides over on top of the other so the
Coir is laying face against face and over sew the two widths together using a waxed linen
thread. When seaming has been done spread out the carpet again. Just before you start to
install the Coir sprinkle water only over the area that you are working on to an approximate
rate of 1/2 lt. to 4 square metres, this will expand the Coir carpet and make it easier to
stretch on to the gripper/smoothedge. A power stretcher can be used to stretch long lengths
of Coir, but a standard knee kicker will do for smaller areas. Trim in and staple the Coir to the
gripper/smoothedge as you go using 14mm long staples.
(B) Firstly it is best that this method of joining Coir together is prepared in the work room the
day before installation, this allows the joins to set. If this is not possible, after you have
joined the Coir together on site, leave joins to set overnight without putting any tension on
the seams. However if this is still not possible, after joining the Coir together you must, stop
nail off either side of the full length of the joins, before you stretch the Coir, these nails will
help stabiles the join but again they must be left in overnight.
(B1). Roll the carpet out and cut it in roughly so that it is flat, but leave the seams over
lapped. Trim off each side with a pair of shears or top cutter, making sure you cut back into
the latex backing, once this is done run a bead of PVA wood glue down the cut edge of either
pieces, and heat bond together using a quality foil heat tape. This joining method must be
allowed to set for approximately 18 hours before you can put any tension in it.
N.B. Only water down the areas you are working on. DO NOT water down any of the joins or
the entire area at once.
Sisal carpet
Prepare floor as you would for any traditional carpet installation over an underlay.
Install carpet gripper/smoothedge and underfelt, ensuring that the underfelt joins do not
coincide with the carpet joins.
Roll the carpet out and cut the carpet in roughly so it is flat, leaving the seams over lapped.
Trim off each side with a pair of shears or top cutter, once this is done run a bead of PVA
wood glue down the cut edge of one of the pieces, and join the Sisals together using a top
quality heat tape. It is advisable to leave the seam to set for an hour before you start
stretching the Sisal on to the gripper/smoothedge. A powerstrecher can be used to stretch
long lengths of Sisal, but a standard kneekicker will do for smaller areas. Trim in and staple
the Sisal on to the gripper/smoothedge as you go using 12mm long staples.
If you get a few creases in the Sisal and you cannot kick them out, spray the creased area
with a fine mist of water, but only do this after you have completed the installation. This
method will tighten the Sisal fibres and pull out the affected areas.
N.B. For the best possible results, we recommend that all natural fibre carpets are
installed using architectural smoothedge and put on a 7lb 100% Jute, Jute/Hair
combination commercial underfelt or Bridgestone Cushion Pad.
M