Option 1. With these measurements you can simply find the length and width measurements on the back of the Legato box or bay display. Within the measurement grid you will find the proper number of Legato boxes needed.

Option 2. Go to the Project Center and input your room dimensions. The site will calculate the number of boxes needed and determine installation starting points within the room.

Should I be concerned with dye lot (color) consistency?
Legato is sold in different shade lots, similar to other manufactured goods for your home, i.e., paint, wallpaper, ceramic tile. When purchasing Legato, please make sure that each box has the same shade lot letter on the label. If you need to purchase more Legato at a later date, make sure to buy the same shade lot at your local Home Depot.

What are the dimensions of Legato carpet panels?
Legato carpet panels are 22" x 23".

What can I do after installation if I still see seams?
Immediately after installation, you might see the hint of some seams. Check between the panels to make sure that there are no trapped yarns. If there are any trapped yarns, remove them with a thin, blunt instrument. You also need to check if the panels are snugly installed. If you notice a gap between panels, remedy by installing the panels more closely together, again, making sure there are no trapped yarns. Once you are confident that there are no trapped yarns, vacuuming and foot traffic will make the individual panels blend together.

What else does Milliken make?
Milliken & Company makes a variety of floor covering products including broadloom carpet, area rugs, washable decorative rugs and Capture® Carpet Cleaner. These products can be purchased at home centers and carpet specialty stores nationwide.

Milliken also makes woven and knitted fabrics that can be found in automobiles, sailboats, tennis balls and computer ribbons, to name just a few.

For more information, please visit http://www.milliken.com/.

What is AlphaSan®?
AlphaSan is an antimicrobial agent for carpet. AlphaSan is a "locked-in" additive, incorporated into the backing of the Legato panels. AlphaSan takes the worry out of spills, odors or other types of carpet deterioration by providing protection just below the fiber layer, which also enhances the permanence of the treatment. AlphaSan may extend the life and aesthetic quality of carpet, and Milliken research indicates that AlphaSan offers longer lasting protection than any similar products.

What is Scotchgard®?
Scotchgard is a proprietary soil-resistant treatment. This treatment acts as the first layer of defense in protecting the fiber from penetrating soils and stains. Most importantly, by preventing soil from clinging to or embedding into the fiber surface, Scotchgard significantly reduces soil accumulation and assists in soil removal during vacuuming and cleaning.

Proper maintenance is vital to the long-term effectiveness of the Scotchgard Treatment. Soaps used in wet cleaning processes can mask or lessen the effectiveness of Scotchgard. For maximum appearance retention, Milliken recommends the use of mats to trap dirt and moisture before they can be tracked into your home.

What is TractionBack™?
TractionBack releasable tacky backing is an adhesive treatment similar to that used on sticky notes. It is designed to have a low level of vertical stick and a high level of lateral grip. The lateral grip helps prevent lateral movement (slip) of the tiles across the floor provided the floor is fairly clean. The slight vertical tack of the TractionBack treatment also reduces the chance that a child or pet will remove a tile from the floor. Glue and/or tape complement TractionBack treatment in those areas where additional stick or grip may be required. A small amount of residue may transfer to your hands or the flooring and can be easily washed away with soap and water.

What type of fiber is Legato ?
Legato is 100% nylon.

Why do the panels have wavy edges?
The wavy edges of Legato carpet panels allow the panels to fit together securely, resulting in a simple installation with a smooth, clean look.

Will Legato's TractionBack System harm my existing floor?
TractionBack releasable tacky backing has been designed to have a low level of vertical stick and a high level of lateral grip. The lateral grip helps prevent lateral movement (slip) of the tiles across the floor provided the floor is fairly clean. The slight vertical tack of the TractionBack treatment also reduces the chance that a child or pet will remove a tile from the floor. Glue and/or tape complement TractionBack treatment in those areas where additional stick or grip may be required. A small amount of residue may transfer to your hands or the flooring and can be easily washed away with common household cleaners.


Installation FAQs

Can I install my Legato panels immediately after purchase?
Yes, Legato panels may be installed immediately, provided you have transported them from one temperature controlled environment to another. Legato will install best if stored between 60 and 90 degrees F for 24 hours prior to installation.

Can Legato panels be installed directly over vinyl flooring?
Yes, Legato panels can be installed over any clean, sound and dry surface. Should your vinyl flooring have any loose areas, surface cracks or holes, these should be repaired to insure a smooth, clean and dry surface.

How can I reactivate the TractionBack technology of my Legato carpet panel?
Simply wipe the back of your Legato panel with a damp cloth to remove any loose dust or debris.

How do I cut my Legato carpet panels?
Use any straight edge over 3 feet long to help make straight cuts. Make several passes with the razor knife exerting mild pressure that you can easily control.

To cut a panel to fit around custom moldings, door jams, fire places, and other irregular shapes, first use a piece of cardboard or stiff paper and make a template of the cut. Then, transfer the template to the carpet for cutting.

How do I determine if my floor is flat and level?
Flatness:
Variations in sub-floor flatness should be less than 1/4" in 10'. A quick way to check for this is to take a 4-foot level (or straight edge) and place it on its edge on the floor. Slide it around the floor watching for a gap at the middle of the level. If that gap exceeds 1/8" you will need to level the floor.

Level:
The slope of the room should not exceed 1" in 6'. Slope can be checked by placing a level on top of a reasonably straight 2x4 that is 6' long. Raise the end of the 2x4 opposite from where the bubble is until the bubble shows level. If the gap between the floor and the raised end is over 1 inch you will need to reduce the severity of the slope.

How do I transition from the carpet on my stairs to Legato?
Option 1 - Conventional broadloom carpet installed up the stairs with tack strip, pad and staples. End carpet and pad at last vertical riser with each stapled to the riser. Cut carpet even with upper landing floor surface. Install riser nosing hardware at edge of upper landing and riser as indicated by nosing manufacturer. Lay carpet panels on upper floor landing and cut to installed nosing or mounting hardware. Press decorative nosing into hardware over the installed panels and against the B/L carpet stapled on the vertical riser. (It may be necessary to cut the pad back 1" to 2" to ensure the carpet will fit properly under the riser nose.)

Option 2 - Conventional broadloom installed up the stairs with tack strip, pad and staples. End carpet and pad at 4" to 6" over the top stair riser and on to the landing. Finish the carpet edge with a reverse Z bar on the landing. Cut and install carpet panels up to the carpeted edge.

Option 3 - Conventional broadloom install up the stairs with tack strip, pad and staples. End broadloom installation with the last horizontal riser prior to the upper landing. Install carpet panels in the landing area so the panels at the landing / vertical riser can overlap to fully cover the last vertical riser. To enhance the fit of the panels that are bent over the landing / riser edge, it may be necessary to cut or route out several V groves across the back of the panel. Be careful to only remove the re-bond pad layer and not cut into the moisture barrier. Heating of the panel at the bend area with a blow dryer will assist in creating a better fit. After making the necessary cuts to ensure a tight fit to the riser and landing, it will be necessary to adhere this panel with contact cement or staples and tacks to both the vertical and horizontal surfaces of the panel.

How do the Legato panels stay in place?
With the revolutionary TractionBack system, your Legato floor panels grip the floor with a proprietary friction back coating, eliminating any lateral movement while allowing some degree of vertical lift.

What are tack strips and how do I remove them?
Tack strips are the 4' strips of wood with sharp tacks exposed that are nailed to your sub floor around the perimeter of your room to hold broadloom carpet in place. These can be easily removed with a pry bar and hammer. Upon prying the tack strip loose from a concrete slab, you may notice small nail holes. Any holes exceeding 1/8 " should be filled with the appropriate floor patch.

What are the suitable materials to fill holes or cracks with?
Cracks and holes in excess of 1/8" should be filled with a Portland Cement based floor patching material such as W.W. Henry 547 Unipro, DAP "Webcrete 98", Maipei "PlainPatch", Ardex "Featherfinish" or similar. Gypsum based compounds are not recommended. Follow the manufacturer's recommended instructions.

What is quarter round molding and how do I remove it?
Quarter round is the rounded wood molding that is typically nailed to the base board where the floor and base board meet. This is usually found with vinyl, laminate and wood floors. The quarter round may be simply removed with a hammer and pry bar. You may want to use caution in removing the quarter round to avoid damaging your base board. As your Legato carpet panel is installed directly next to the base board, you may no longer find it desirable to use the quarter round. This is purely an aesthetic decision.

What is the best way to avoid trapping yarns during installation?
The ideal installation process to minimize trapped yarns is to slide a panel into place against the wave and flat edge simultaneously. You would actually pull the panel into place at a 45 degree angle to the existing vertical and horizontal rows.

You also want to brush up the yarns that have fallen over the side prior to placing a panel on the floor. When you have finished installing your room, run a blunt instrument such as a butter knife or a car key in between the panels to free any remaining trapped yarns.

What tools and materials will I need to install my Legato Carpet system?
Tools:
* Self-retracting utility knife and extra blades (approximately 1 blade per box of Legato purchased)
* Protective work glove ( wear on hand not holding self-retracting utility knife)
* Straightedge at least 2' long
* Black felt tip marker
* Chalk line
* Measuring tape
* Broom and dustpan or vacuum
* Damp mop
* Template for cutting perimeter panels (provided on the back of the box)
Materials:
* Boxes of Legato carpet panels
* Transition strips and materials needed to install

Additional items to consider, depending on your specific room situation or personal preference:
* Dust mask
* Knee pads
* Suitable material to fill holes or cracks
* Tools to remove tack strips and molding
* Level to check flatness of floor
* Capture Dry Carpet Cleaner

What tools should I use to remove tack strips and molding?
A prybar, putty knife and hammer work best at removing tack strips and molding.

Why is it important for the Legato Template to be cut accurately along the dotted line on the box?
The Legato template has been designed to assist you in cutting your perimeter panels along both the flat and wave edges of your Legato installation. With the template cut to the specific size you will minimize your waste and the number of cuts that you will make in completing your perimeter areas. Please note it is imperative that you place the corresponding template edge to that of the panel when cutting.

Why is it important to avoid trapping yarn during the installation process?
Trapped yarn may detract from the overall appearance. To insure a smooth, clean look, be sure to un-trap any yarns from between tiles. This is a simple process in which you push or pull a blunt edge object such as a butter knife or car key between the tiles. This will release any trapped yarns.

Why is it important to draw an arrow (replicating the existing arrow) on the back of all cut tiles greater than 6" in width?
Your Legato panel has been engineered with a pile direction to insure a uniform appearance. When panels are cut, it is important to note the arrow direction as you continue the use of any cut panels greater than 6" in width.


Care and Maintenance FAQs

Can I steam clean or shampoo my Legato floor?
Milliken & Company recommends that all carpet be maintained with highly effective Capture Dry Carpet Cleaner. For information on this product go to http://www.captureclean.com/. Should your carpet become heavily soiled, steam cleaning is an acceptable alternative for restorative cleaning. Once the carpet has dried, follow with Capture Dry Carpet Cleaning.

How do I remove various spots, spills and stains?
With your Legato panels, spots, spills and stains are no longer an issue. To understand the best possible way to remove most of your common household spots, spills and stains, simply go to http://www.captureclean.com/. For those stubborn stains, no worry; simply remove stained panel and replace with a new leftover panel from your initial purchase.

What is Capture and where can I get it?
Capture is made up of thousands of small porous particles that look and act much like tiny sponges that absorb dirt, spots, and spills. The Capture particles are composed of thousands of synthetic polymer particles that contain a water-based cleaning solution and mild lemon fragrance. Capture safely removes soiling from fibers without damaging the fiber or its stain-resistant finish. In fact, it is approved by Dupont, Monsanto and Allied. Capture will not void carpet warranties! Capture is designed to remove the oily and water based soils that your vacuum simply can't. How? By absorbing the material into a particle that's easily vacuumed away.

Capture may be purchased at your local home center or carpet specialty store. Visit http://www.captureclean.com/ for more information. Please call 1-800-CAPTURE for a dealer near you.


Other FAQs

What does the word Legato mean?
Legato - musical direction in a smooth, even style, with no noticeable interruption between the notes!

What kind of carpet is Legato?
Legato is a frieze, cut pile carpet where the yarns are extremely twisted, forming a "curly" textured surface.  This unique look also minimizes foot prints and vacuum marks, which enhances the overall appearance of your installation.

Who is Milliken?
A leading international textile and chemical firm, Milliken & Company is one of the world's largest privately held companies. Headquartered in Spartanburg, S.C., the company's more than 16,000 associate's work from over 60 manufacturing facilities worldwide to produce high quality textile and chemical products.

Over 48,000 different textile and chemical products have been developed, including fabrics to keep our soldiers warm, astronauts safe, and major league baseball players comfortable. Other woven and knitted fabrics can be found in automobiles, sailboats, tennis balls and computer ribbons, to name just a few.

Milliken Carpets and Rugs add a touch of elegance to homes and businesses world-wide. Chemicals developed by Milliken keep carpets clean, give Crayola crayons and markers their color and automobile dashboards their durability. Milliken is a leading manufacturer of clarifiers for the plastics and polypropylene industries.

For more information, visit http://www.milliken.com/.