I finally stopped yanking on seams after Mike set me straight

Had this old timer named Mike on a job in Nashville tell me to stop pulling so hard on my seams and just let the glue do the work. Tried it on a 12x15 bedroom and ended up with zero ripples for the first time in 2 years. Anyone else ever get that same advice and have it work or backfire?

3 comments

3 Comments

murray.robert6d ago

Man I gotta say I see it different. If you just let the glue do all the work on a hot day that seems like a recipe for the seam to shift before it grabs. I had a job in Atlanta where I backed off on the pressure and ended up with a seam that opened up three days later because the glue hadn't bonded all the way through the backing. Not saying Mike is wrong for every situation but for me a little tension helps lock everything down while the adhesive sets.

wright.leo6d ago

Totally been there. Saw the same thing happen on a warehouse job in July after I tried the "let the glue breathe" method and had to tear out 40 feet. I run just enough tension to keep the seam flat without stretching it, then check the grab after 15 minutes.

morgan.jason6d ago

So when you say a little tension, are we talking just enough to keep the seam flat, or are you actually putting some real take-up on it? Curious how you judge where that line is.