Ecologically safe carpet adhesives

Carpeted floors are warm to the feet, slip-proof and offer high walk-on comfort combined with good sound insulation. In order to resist wear and tear for as long as possible and not to form waves, it is advisable to glue the carpeting to the subfloor over its entire surface. Solvent-free adhesives guarantee a healthy indoor climate and are easily recognizable by quality seals like the EMICODE®.

Tip 1: Full-bond carpet installation

Loose-lay installation is often chosen for wall-to-wall carpeting. However, it is wiser to glue the carpet firmly to the subfloor, especially in rooms subject to high traffic (e.g. the hallway or children’s rooms). This extends the service life and makes the carpet more durable. It also prevents the formation of waves, caused for example by chair castors. If underfloor heating was installed, there is no other choice than full-surface bonding of the carpet. As there is no air space between carpet and subfloor, the heat is transferred faster and more directly to the room. This prevents energy losses and saves heating costs.

Tip 2: Properly prepare the subfloor

In order to prevent later damage to the floor or mold growth, it is important to expertly prepare the subfloor before laying and gluing the carpet. For this purpose, the subfloor must be level, dry and free of cracks and dirt. Before gluing the carpet over the entire surface, it is recommended to apply a priming coat. One day before installation, the carpet should be allowed to adapt to the room climate.

Tip 3: EMICODE® stands for ecologically safe products

When buying carpets, test seals such as GuT (Association of Environmentally Friendly Carpets) help to identify good quality and avoid harmful substances. But the adhesive used for fixing the carpet also plays a key role. To ensure an odorless home free of harmful substances, solvent-free dispersion adhesives should be used. They are available with quality seals like the EMICODE® EC1 seal. For more than 20 years now, GEV EMICODE® has been testing and certifying building and installation products for their compliance with predefined emission levels for healthy indoor air.

Foto: @baronb/123rf.com

Share article on Social Media:

7 May 2019