Abstract: The disclosed tool has a base plate with opposed upper and lower faces. A handle is mounted off the upper face. A layer of an anti-friction material may be present on the lower face of the base plate. The base plate has a plurality of through holes between the upper and lower faces, arranged in a closely spaced array over the whole lower face. Other than the interruption these holes may provide, the lower face is flat and smooth. The tool is used with the lower face being placed on, pressed against, and moved along a connecting seam, from the upper side of the carpet, that is being established between two adjacent carpet pieces by means of a lapping tape having a heat-activated adhesive thereon, which upon cooling becomes bonded to the carpet edges. The tool effectively holds the carpet pieces in place while the adhesive is cooling and simultaneously dissipates heat from the carpet and seam to set the seam quickly.