Answers to all your questions about the innovative Tesserae Carpet System:
If you have questions about Tesserae -- such as product, installation, care and maintenance, and more -- just click on the area that you're inquiring about and we'll fill you in.
Product FAQs
What type of carpet is Tesserae carpeting?
Tesserae is a Frieze, cut pile carpet where the yarns are extremely twisted, forming a "curly" textured surface. This unique look also minimizes footprints and vacuum marks, which enhances the overall appearance of your installation.
What are the specifications of Tesserae carpet panels?
Tesserae is a 24" x 24" frieze panel with a 6 lb. attached pad. Tesserae Spectrum is made of 100% Wear-Dated® DuraSoft® nylon and is protected by 3M Scotchgard™. All other Tesserae products are made of 100% WearOn® nylon and are protected by 3M Scotchgard™.
What is Tesserae Essentials?
click here
How do the Tesserae carpet panels stay in place?
With the revolutionary TractionBack™ glue-free installation system, your Tesserae floor panels grip the floor with a proprietary friction back coating, eliminating any lateral movement while allowing some degree of vertical lift.
What is TractionBack?
TractionBack releasable tack backing is an adhesive treatment similar to the adhesive 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 pad is used with Tesserae carpet panels?
Each Tesserae panel has an attached 6 lb residential padding with a moisture barrier built in - assuring a soft, comfortable, quiet feel and added subfloor protection.
What is AlphaSan®?
AlphaSan is an antimicrobial agent for carpet that reduces product deterioration and odors caused by microbial activity. AlphaSan antimicrobial may extend the useful life and aesthetic quality of the carpet. The AlphaSan compound has been cleared by the FDA and registered by the EPA for food contact and is being used commercially in apparel, food processing and medical device applications. Incorporation of the AlphaSan agent into the carpet provides protection just below the fiber layer, meaning that any spills that penetrate below the face of the carpet will come in contact with the AlphaSan agent, reducing the opportunity for product-deteriorating microbial activity and odor in the backing or beneath the carpet. The AlphaSan antimicrobial will remain active for the life of the carpet under normal use. AlphaSan is a registered trademark of Milliken & Company.
Should I be concerned with dye lot (color) consistency?
The Tesserae Carpet System is sold in different shade lots, similar to other manufactured goods for your home, i.e., paint, wallpaper, ceramic tile. When ordering Tesserae, you may be confident that Milliken and Company takes every precaution to ensure that all of your carpet is color consistent. If you need to purchase more Tesserae carpet panels at a later date, make sure to buy the same shade lot at your local Tesserae carpet dealer.
Does Tesserae carpet come in other constructions?
As a leading manufacturing / marketing company in the floor covering industry, Milliken & Company will continue to bring new and innovative Tesserae carpet products to the market. Currently Tesserae carpet is offered as a high performance frieze product in multiple colors.
Can you see the seams?
Immediately after installation, the seams may be visible. With proper installation, the removal of trapped yarns and vacuuming, they will become less noticeable, creating a smooth, clean look.
Installation FAQs
Can Tesserae panels be installed directly over vinyl flooring?
Yes, Tesserae 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.
Who can I contact for installation?
You can install Tesserae yourself by following the instructions on this website or use our Dealer Locator to find the Tesserae Flooring Professional near you.
Can I install Tesserae myself?
Yes, Tesserae has been designed and engineered to insure a beautiful installation either by you or by a Professional Flooring Contractor. Whether you use a contractor or handle the project yourself, you have the flexibility to create that custom look without the custom price.
How is Tesserae installed?
Tesserae is a revolutionary carpet system that is installed directly over any existing clean, hard, smooth floor. With our patent pending TractionBack technology, Tesserae panels are simply laid tightly together and then cut securely against the exterior walls of a room. For more detailed installation instructions, click on either of the .PDF files.
TesseraeEnglish.pdf
TesseraeSpanish.pdf
How do I transition from the carpet on my stairs to Tesserae?
Option 1 - Conventional B/L install 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 insure the carpet will fit properly under the riser nose.)
Option 2 - Conventional B/L install 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 B/L install up the stairs with tack strip, pad and staples. End B/L install 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 rebond 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 insure 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.
Care/Maintenance FAQs
Can I use solvent-based cleaners on my Tesserae Carpet System?
Milliken does not recommend any cleaning system consisting of mineral based solvent products. This includes spot cleaners, degreasers, or any other cleaner that contains mineral based solvents. Solvents will cause excessive soiling problems and can cause product deterioration. A solvent based cleaner would have active ingredients other than water and surfactant. Solvent-based cleaners are used to target oily or greasy spots. Typically these have been hydrocarbon or mineral spirit based. Now most people incorporate an alcohol or another water-soluble agent to gain the same effect. We recommend our Capture® Carpet Cleaner for this purpose.
Can I steam clean or shampoo my Tesserae carpet system floor?
Milliken & Company recommends that all carpet be maintained with highly effective Capture Dry Carpet Cleaner. For information on this product, go to 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.
Where can I go to learn more about carpet?
The Carpet and Rug Institute - www.carpet-rug.com
This new product sounds wonderful, and I'd like to purchase it. However, I'm worried that my dog or my children might somehow pull the tiles up! Should I be concerned about this?
The Tesserae Carpet System, with replaceable panels, is the perfect flooring solution for families with pets and kids. To make sure that our product stands up to the demands of an active family, we did many test installations. In these installations, we have not had any problems with pets (including dogs) disturbing the tiles. Many factors contribute to this. Our TractionBack system provides some resistance when pulling up a tile, and the inherent weight and shape of the tile also helps to keep it in place. Also, when panels are installed correctly, are vacuumed, and have regular foot traffic, the outlines of individual panels should be camouflaged, making them difficult for children or pets to pick up.