IICRC Carpet Repair and Reinstallation Technician (RRT)

When using a hot melt seam iron, what is the typical temperature range that bonds standard residential seam tape adhesive properly?

• A100-150 degrees F
• B175-225 degrees F
• C250-300 degrees F
• D400-450 degrees F

Why should seam sealer be applied to both cut edges of carpet before joining them with seam tape?

• AIt cools the seam iron so the adhesive does not burn
• BIt prevents the cut edges from raveling and locks the primary backing to the face yarn
• CIt replaces the need for seam tape on lightweight carpet
• DIt is only used on woven Wilton and Axminster carpet

What is the recommended slide rate for a hot melt seam iron during seaming?

• A1-2 inches per minute
• B6-10 inches every 30 seconds
• C18-24 inches at a time, weighting the seam immediately behind the iron
• DThe full length of the seam in a single continuous pass

When planning seam layout in a rectangular living room with a primary window on one wall, where should seams ideally be placed?

• AParallel to and directly under the primary light source
• BPerpendicular to main traffic flow and away from primary light sources
• CDiagonally across the room to break up the visual line
• DIn the highest-traffic walkway so wear pattern is uniform

What is the primary purpose of placing seam weights immediately behind the seam iron as it moves forward?

• ATo cool the adhesive while pressing the carpet firmly into the tape for a strong bond
• BTo prevent the carpet from shifting on the tack strip
• CTo increase the temperature of the seam tape adhesive
• DTo compress the secondary backing so it is thinner at the seam

What does it mean to seam carpet so that the 'pile direction matches' on both sides of the seam?

• AThe latex secondary backing is from the same dye lot
• BThe face yarn on both pieces leans (lays) in the same direction along the seam
• CBoth pieces are cut from the same width of the carpet roll
• DThe primary backing weave runs perpendicular to the seam

A technician is seaming two pieces of cut-pile carpet and notices the trimmed edges are slightly ragged. What is the proper next step before applying seam tape?

• AApply more seam tape adhesive to compensate for the ragged edges
• BRe-trim both edges with a row cutter or straight edge for clean, straight edges, then app…
• CTrim only the worse of the two edges, since the seam will close any gap
• DUse a wider seam iron to bridge across the ragged area

On a loop-pile berber carpet, which trimming method preserves the loops along the seam edge?

• ATop cutting with a utility knife from the face side
• BRow cutting between rows of loops from the back side using a row cutter
• CHeat cutting with the seam iron itself
• DStraight-edge cutting along the secondary backing only

What is the most common cause of a seam 'peaking' or 'tenting' upward after installation?

• ASeam sealer was applied to both edges instead of one
• BExcess seam tape adhesive squeezed up between the edges as they were pressed together too…
• CThe carpet pad was 8 lb density instead of 6 lb
• DThe carpet was acclimated to room temperature before installation

Which type of seam tape is generally specified for high-traffic commercial glue-down installations rather than standard residential stretch-in?

• AStandard residential hot melt tape
• BHeat-activated heavy-duty (commercial grade) seam tape with higher adhesive temperature r…
• CPressure-sensitive carpet tile tape
• DDouble-sided floor tape from a hardware store

When seaming two pieces of patterned carpet, what additional step is required compared to seaming plain carpet?

• ASkip the seam sealer because the pattern hides the edge
• BMatch the pattern across the seam so the design is continuous
• CUse cold-glue tape instead of hot melt tape
• DStretch the pattern direction perpendicular to traffic

Why should seams be sealed before, not after, pressing the edges together onto the seam tape?

• ASealer applied after will not penetrate into the primary backing and face yarn locking po…
• BSealer applied after will dissolve the seam tape adhesive
• CSealer applied after is impossible to reach with a typical applicator
• DSealer is not used on hot melt seams at all

What is the minimum recommended distance to keep a seam from a primary doorway opening when possible?

• AThere is no minimum — seams can start at the doorway threshold
• BPlan seams so they do not run directly through a doorway opening
• CAlways center a seam in every doorway for symmetry
• DPlace seams within 3 inches of every doorway threshold

Which factor is MOST critical to the long-term integrity of a hot melt seam under traffic?

• AColor of the secondary backing
• BAdhesive bonding the seam tape to the carpet's primary backing across the full width of t…
• CBrand of the seam iron
• DExact length of the seam in inches

What is the typical sequence when sealing and joining a hot melt seam?

• AApply tape, activate iron, then apply seam sealer to the surface of the closed seam
• BTrim and inspect edges, apply seam sealer to both cut edges, position seam tape, heat and…
• CApply seam tape, press edges together cold, then heat the seam tape after the seam is clo…
• DApply seam sealer only after the carpet is power-stretched

An installer is seaming carpet in a hallway where light comes from a window at one end. What seam direction minimizes the visible seam line?

• APlace the seam perpendicular to the hallway (running side-to-side) so the seam crosses th…
• BRun the seam down the length of the hallway parallel to the direction of the light rays
• CPlace two short angled seams meeting at the center
• DAvoid hallways entirely — never seam in a hallway

When sourcing a carpet patch, where is typically the BEST place to harvest a donor piece?

• AFrom the most visible center of the room so any color shift is obvious
• BFrom a closet, under a permanent piece of furniture, or under an appliance
• CFrom an outdoor remnant of the same brand
• DFrom a different room with the same general color

When patching a cigarette burn in cut-pile carpet, why must the pile direction of the patch match the surrounding carpet?

• ABecause tax law requires it for replacement claims
• BSo light reflects the same way off the patch and the surrounding carpet, making the patch…
• CBecause seam tape only bonds in one pile direction
• DBecause pile direction affects the air permeability of the underlay

What is the difference between a 'plug' patch and a 'full' patch?

• AA plug patch uses a square or round shape covering only the damage area; a full patch rep…
• BA plug patch is glued down; a full patch is stretched only
• CPlug patches are only for berber; full patches are only for cut pile
• DA plug patch is permanent; a full patch is removable

When cutting a plug patch and the matching receiver hole, what tool produces the most invisible patch in cut-pile carpet?

• AUtility knife only
• BCookie cutter (carpet patching cutter) used on both the donor and the receiving hole so t…
• CScissors cut by hand
• DHot seam iron cut

Why must seam sealer be applied to the edges of BOTH the patch and the receiving hole before pressing them together?

• ASeam sealer fills the void between the two pieces if they do not match exactly
• BSeam sealer prevents both cut edges from raveling and locks the face yarn into the primar…
• CSeam sealer is required only for the donor piece, not the receiving carpet
• DSeam sealer dyes the edges so any small gap is hidden

An installer needs to patch a hole in a stretched carpet installed over pad and tack strip. What is the typical method for securing the patch to the floor below?

• ANail the patch directly to the subfloor
• BPlace double-sided seam tape under the patch (centered on the cut edges) and weight the p…
• CUse only seam sealer to bond the patch to the pad
• DHot-glue the patch to the carpet pad with a glue gun

On a glue-down commercial carpet, what adhesive is typically used to bond a patch to the substrate?

• AThe same multipurpose adhesive used for the original glue-down installation
• BStandard residential hot melt seam tape
• CDrywall joint compound thinned with water
• DPressure-sensitive double-sided floor tape from any hardware store

A patch in a loop-pile berber carpet shows a slight rectangle outline around its edges even though the dye lot is identical. What is the most likely cause?

• AWrong adhesive type
• BPile (loop) direction or pattern is not aligned with the surrounding carpet, so light ref…
• CThe patch was installed when humidity was above 50 percent
• DThe seam iron temperature was too low

Which is NOT an acceptable donor source for a carpet patch?

• AInside a closet of the same installation
• BUnder a permanent built-in appliance
• CA scrap from a previous installation of a different roll/dye lot in another home
• DUnder a heavy permanent furniture piece such as an entertainment console

What is the proper handling of the seam tape under a plug patch — should it be centered under the cut edge, or fully under the patch?

• AFully under the patch only, with no tape under the existing carpet
• BCentered under the cut edge so half the tape width is under the patch and half under the…
• CFully under the existing carpet only, with no tape under the patch
• DSeam tape is not used under plug patches

On a patch that crosses an existing seam in the original installation, what is the recommended approach?

• ATreat the original seam as if it does not exist when cutting and patching
• BExtend the patch perimeter so it crosses the original seam by at least a few inches, then…
• CCut a separate small patch on each side of the original seam
• DNever patch across an existing seam — relocate the patch

What is the primary visual defect that results from a patch that is slightly LARGER than the receiving hole and forced into place?

• AThe patch will recess below the surrounding carpet face
• BThe patch will bulge upward (mushroom) above the surrounding carpet face, producing a vis…
• CThe seam sealer will fail to cure
• DThe carpet pad density will become uneven

Which patch method is typically used when an entire fill piece between two existing seams is damaged beyond plug repair?

• AMultiple plug patches stitched together
• BFull patch — replace the entire fill piece between the existing seams, re-seam both seam…
• CGlue a remnant directly on top of the damaged carpet
• DWeave individual fibers back into the damaged area

After completing a plug patch, the technician notices a single tuft sticking up slightly higher than the surrounding pile. What is the proper way to address it?

• APull the tuft completely out of the patch
• BTrim only that tuft to the surrounding height with sharp scissors, flush with the rest of…
• CPress down on the tuft with a heated seam iron
• DApply seam sealer over the top of the tuft to glue it down flat

What is the PRIMARY tool used for stretching wall-to-wall residential carpet onto tack strip?

• AKnee kicker
• BPower stretcher (lever-action stretcher with extension tubes)
• CSeam iron
• DRow cutter

Approximately how far from the wall should the head of a power stretcher be positioned when engaging the carpet?

• ARight against the baseboard, touching the wall
• BApproximately 6 inches from the wall
• CApproximately 24 inches from the wall
• DIn the exact center of the room

When using a power stretcher in a rectangular room, what is the recommended general sequence?

• AStretch only one wall, then trim and finish
• BHook one wall (starter wall), then stretch from that wall to the opposite wall (primary s…
• CStretch all four walls simultaneously
• DStretch from the center outward toward each wall in turn

What is the approximate target stretch percentage applied to broadloom carpet during power stretching?

• A0-1 percent
• B6-8 percent
• C15-20 percent
• D25-30 percent

What is the PRIMARY purpose of the secondary (perpendicular) stretch in a wall-to-wall installation?

• ATo shrink the carpet so it does not buckle
• BTo apply uniform stretch in the direction perpendicular to the primary stretch, locking t…
• CTo loosen the primary stretch so the carpet relaxes
• DSecondary stretching is optional and rarely performed

Which of the following is the CORRECT use of a knee kicker?

• AAs the primary tool for stretching wall-to-wall carpet in a large room
• BOnly for finishing corners, hooking carpet onto tack strip in tight spaces, and small are…
• CFor seaming carpet panels together
• DFor removing tack strip from wood subfloors

Why is a knee kicker NOT acceptable as the primary tool on a wall-to-wall residential install?

• AIt applies inconsistent, localized stretch that cannot match the uniform stretch of a pow…
• BIt is too expensive for most installers to purchase
• CIt can only be used on glue-down carpet
• DIt damages the secondary backing more than a power stretcher

What component of a power stretcher acts as the anchor opposite the head, distributing force against the starting wall?

• AThe tail block (also called the head block or buffer block) padded against the opposite w…
• BThe secondary backing of the carpet
• CThe tack strip itself
• DThe carpet pad

When stretching carpet, why must the installer be careful not to over-stretch beyond approximately 8 percent?

• AIt will set off the carpet's electrostatic discharge alarm
• BOver-stretching can delaminate the secondary backing from the primary backing and damage…
• COver-stretching makes the carpet color permanently darker
• DOver-stretching only affects shag carpet

An installer hooks carpet onto tack strip along one wall using a knee kicker. After power-stretching across to the opposite wall, what should happen next?

• ASkip the remaining walls — only two opposite walls need stretching
• BTrim and finish only the two stretched walls
• CPerform a secondary stretch perpendicular to the first stretch, hooking the opposite perp…
• DRoll up the carpet and start over

What is the recommended approach in a long narrow hallway when the power stretcher head cannot reach with extension tubes alone?

• AUse a knee kicker only, since the power stretcher is impossible
• BCombine extension tubes with intermediate brace plates, or use a mini-stretcher / stair t…
• CSkip stretching the hallway entirely
• DCut the carpet into smaller pieces and seam them every few feet

On a stairway, which tool replaces the standard power stretcher for hooking carpet onto the tack strip in tread/riser corners?

• AA larger power stretcher with extra-long tubes
• BA knee kicker or stair tool (small stretcher) plus a stair chisel
• CA seam iron
• DA 12-foot row cutter

An installer finds buckles in a one-year-old stretched carpet installation. What is the most likely root cause?

• AExcessive vacuuming
• BThe carpet was not adequately power-stretched at installation — typically a knee-kicker-o…
• CThe carpet was acclimated to room temperature
• DDaylight savings time shifted humidity

When laying out a single roll of 12-foot-wide carpet in a 14-foot by 18-foot room, which direction is the carpet typically rolled out so the fill seam runs perpendicular to traffic?

• ARoll out along the 18-foot length so the 12-foot width covers most of the room and a narr…
• BCut the carpet diagonally across the room
• CRoll out the carpet so the seam is centered in front of the doorway
• DCut the carpet into many small panels

What direction must the pile of all panels in a multi-panel carpet installation lean?

• APile direction can be random across panels
• BAll panels must have their pile leaning the same direction
• CPile direction must alternate panel by panel for symmetry
• DPile direction must point toward the largest window

What does it mean for a power stretcher head to be 'biased' away from the wall?

• AThe head angles slightly so its teeth extend slightly beyond a 90-degree relationship to…
• BThe head is offset to one side of the room
• CThe head is loaded with extra weight
• DThe head is angled in the wrong direction

Before stretching carpet, what should an installer typically do regarding acclimation?

• ASkip acclimation — start stretching immediately
• BAllow the carpet (and pad) to acclimate to the room's temperature and humidity for at lea…
• CRefrigerate the carpet for 12 hours
• DHeat the carpet to 120 F before installation