BUCKLING & RIPPLING IN CARPET
There are several things that will cause a carpet to buckle or form ridges or ripples.
If you see this problem, it could be due to defect in the manufacturer's latex, or an installation error from improper cushion, or a temporary condition from cleaning.
ERRORS IN MANUFACTURING
 | If the latex is stiff & brittle. Also see Tufting Carpet for more information |
| or if the latex is sparse and/or hard and brittle then you could be getting something like this: |
If the problem is inherent in manufacturing, then testing can be done for DIMENSIONAL STABILITY. DIMENSIONAL STABILITY does not have official standards. In years past a combined percentage greater than three percent was not acceptable. Furthermore a percentage less than 2.5 was required to consider the carpet good. Currently some mills would say that yarn style and woven backing material would be a factor in determining a higher acceptable percent on this test.
ERRORS IN INSTALLATION
| If the carpet is not power stretched or if it is power stretched in one direction. |
The backside of the carpet above shows oblong stretch marks from the nail of the tackless strip on the right or bottom-side, but not on the left side. Thus this carpet was stretched in the length only creating buckling in the length.
The temperature and humidity on the day that the carpet was installed could also have an effect on a carpet buckling and CRI STANDARDS for both temperature and power stretching are given below.
Concerning Temperature and Humidity with respect to Site Conditions the CRI105 - 1994 says this:
5.2 Temperature and Humidity - Carpet should be installed when the temperature is between 65° and 95° F (18° C. and 35° C.) and the relative humidity Is between 10% and 65% and, if installing over concrete, the slab temperature should not be less than 65° F (18° C).
Concerning power-stretching, the CRI105 says:
9.14 Power Stretching - Following seaming, carpet must be power stretched and firmly hooked onto the tackless strip at the starting walls in surrounding area. The use of a power stretcher is mandatory.
Before power stretching, make certain that hot melt tape seams are cool to the touch.
A four-way stretch is to be used. (See Figures 3-5)
Follow the carpet manufacturer’s recommendations for the method and amount of stretch to be applied.. When recommendations are not available, tufted carpet with jute secondary back should be stretched "drum-tight." Tufted carpet with synthetic secondary back should be stretched 1 to 1 1/2% in width and length.
| If the cushion, (pad) used was of improper thickness or density. |
If the problem is a temporary problem from cleaning, then it called 'differential of expansion'. It will go away upon drying with no lasting effect.
LIQUIDS THAT ARE EXCESSIVELY APPLIED OR SPILLED GETS INTO THE CARPET BACKING.
If excessive liquids are spilt into the carpet such as beverages or is there for prolonged wetting from water, then buckling can also be created. Also, dry solvent in excess will also cause a carpet to buckle and/or delaminate.
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Revised: 05/11/06
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