Stop taping seams before the glue is fully tacky, I beg you

I went to a job last week in a new build and had to rip out 20 yards of carpet because the seams were already separating. The previous guy was laying the tape down while the glue was still wet, so it never actually bonded right. I know we all want to move fast but if you wait like 10 extra minutes for that tack to set, the seam will hold for years. Has anyone else run into this on a commercial build where the GC is breathing down your neck?

3 comments

3 Comments

avery_jackson22d ago

Damn straight, patience pays off every time.

the_jennifer22d ago

Spent three years building my freelance client base from scratch. Took forever to get that first retainer. Now I'm turning down work because I'm fully booked. Pretty incredible how sticking with something long enough just works out.

charlescraig21d agoMost Upvoted

Three years is a long grind but that's exactly what separates people who make it from people who quit right before it clicks. @the_jennifer you're proof that the first retainer is the hardest and after that it's just momentum doing the heavy lifting. Turning down work is a good problem to have, means you built something real.