FIBER/ ID METHOD: Nylon 66
COLOR: Blue
CONSTRUCTION: Tufted Cut Loop
STYLE: Saxony Plush
SQUARE YARDAGE: 166
BACK SYSTEM: Conventional Tufted
PRIMARY BACKING: Polypropylene
SECONDARY BACKING: Polypropylene
THE INSTALLATION
TYPE OF SITE: Residential
METHOD: Stretch-In
CUSHION: Urethane Prime
SUBFLOOR: Concrete on the First Level, Ply-wood on the Second Level
AREA INSTALLED: Livingroom, Dining Room, Stair-well, Landing, Hallway, And Four Bedrooms.
USE & MAINTENANCE INFORMATION AT THE TIME OF INSPECTION
LITERATURE RECEIVED WITH PURCHASE:
ADULTS: 2 CHILDREN: 0 PETS: 0
TEMPERATURE: 70.9°F - 21.6° C
RELATIVE HUMIDITY: 48%
VACUUM TYPE: Built-In & Top-Fill Upright
FREQUENCY: Weekly
DO THEY SMOKE? No
ENTRY MATS: Yes
CONDITION of THE CARPET: Good
SOIL: None Noticeable
HEATING TYPE: Heat Pump
COOLING TYPE: Central - Electric
HOME SPOTTING AGENTS: NONE
CLEANING: New Carpet
REASON FOR COMMISSION
The claimant has reported an appearance problem.
THE REPORT
Geographical Background Information
The carpet in question is located on the first and second levels of the claimant’s home at the address above. This free standing house is in a residential neighborhood which is located on the western edge of the San Fernando Valley.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION MADE TO THE INSPECTOR
Immediately upon the installation of the carpet the claimant noticed loose and pulled yarns. This problem was first noticed in the dining room and then on the stairs. Later it was discovered underneath the bed in the master’s bedroom.
An inspection by Don Wand of the carpet was commissioned by the manufacturer. This report noted the ‘yarn sprouts’ and determined that they were the result of the stretching device of the installer.
DETAIL PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION BY THE INSPECTOR
Pulled yarns were located in the dining room, on the stairs, and under the bed in the master’s bedroom. With the exception of the master’s bedroom, the pulled yarns were close to the wall’s edge. A slight fuzzy appearance was also noted in trafficked areas as note in pictures number two and three. A jagged seam was observed going into the small bedroom at the stair’s landing.
IN FIELD AND LABORATORY TESTING
An ultra-violet light was shone throughout the installation. This tool draws a yellow reflection from most urine stains and a blue or lavender reflection from detergents with optical brightening agents. Seaming adhesives also contain ultraviolet dyes. The result of this test revealed that there were no foreign chemicals with optical brighteners in this carpet. A seaming adhesive was used.
Numerous moisture tests were performed using a Delmhorst Moisture Sensor. This test would indicate the presence of moisture in the area that was being tested. It is possible for water to be locked-up in salts compounds from residue from urine and other compounds long after the affected area has dried. Any recent/previous over-wetting of the carpet could also be found in the latex backing of a carpet with this device. The results of these tests revealed that there were no moisture readings in this carpet.
Fifteen tuft bind tests were performed over a random area. The results were as follows:
| 3.5 | 3.5 | 4.0 | 2.5 | 3.3 | 4.0 | 4.5 | 2.0 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 4.0 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 4.0 | 2.0 | Ave 3.42 |
A remnant sample of this carpet was sent to Professional Testing Laboratory Inc. of Dalton Georgia for AVER-AGE LATEX BUNDLE WRAP and AVERAGE LATEX PENETRATION testing. The results of these tests were as follows:
AVERAGE LATEX BUNDLE WRAP 77%
AVERAGE LATEX PENETRATION’ 71%
THE ISSUE OF THIS REPORT
The question that I have been asked to address is: what has caused the carpet to have a beard look?
CONDITIONS THAT CAN CAUSE THE PROBLEM
Fuzzing Can be Caused By:
1. excessive foot or mechanical traffic
2. improper maintenance or from the use of too stiff of a brush on a vacuum cleaner
3. improper bundle wrap of the latex
INDUSTRY STANDARDS, PRACTICES & DEFINITIONS
According the floor covering dictionary knee-kicker tears are defined as:
KNEE-KICKER TEARS - First of all, it is not recommended that any carpet be installed using a knee-kicker. This tool was designed to aid the installer in positioning the carpet and as a starting tool. When you see knee-kicker tears, they will usually be around the perimeter of the wall. Another damage a knee-kicker will cause is fuzzy areas on the surface due to the installer using the wrong head. All knee-kickers are equipped with a "nap-grip" and long pins. The pins are to be used on cut pile and cut loops. The "nap-grip" is used on all loop piles.
The DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE SECRETARY FOR HOUSING FEDERAL HOUSING COMMISSIONER sets the standards for minimum tuft-bind called UM44D. For cut-looped carpet this standard is 48 ounces or (3 pounds); for looped carpet the standard is 100 ounces or 6.25 pounds.
According to the FLOOR COVERING DICTIONARY the following definitions are given for Tuft Bind:
TUFT BIND - Force required to pull a tuft from a cut-pile carpet or to pull free one leg of a loop from a looped pile carpet.
The IICRC REFERENCE GUIDE FOR INSPECTION OF TEXTILE FLOORCOVERING defined bundle wrap as the following:
bundle wrap - The penetrating coat of latex adhesive on that portion of the yarn which extends below the primary backing of tufted carpet and which penetrates the bundle of fibers composing the yarn. The bundle wrap also deter-mines tuft bind.
Also, according to the FLOOR COVERING DICTIONARY the following definitions are given for latex:
BUNDLE WRAP - The bead of latex that surrounds a pulled tuft.
LATEX - A water emulsion of synthetic rubber, natural rubber, or other polymer. In carpet, latex is used from laminating secondary backings to tufted carpet, backcoating carpet and rugs, and for manufacturing formed cushion. Almost all carpet latex consists of styrene-butadiene synthetic rubber (SBR) compounded with large quantities of powder fillers. The latter are most often whiting, which is calcium carbonate. Latex is the raw material from which rubber is made.
LATEX PENETRATION - Yarn is removed from the primary and secondary backings and inspected under a micro-scope to determine how much latex penetrated the yarn bundle that exist beneath the primary backing. The results are stated as a percentage of latex penetration. A generally acceptable level is about 85% Latex penetration determines the tuft bind of the carpet.
THE INSPECTOR'S ANALYSIS
Fuzziness is related to the Latex Penetration of the yarn. The lower the numbers for penetration, the more fuzzy the carpet looks. The lack of coverage of latex relates to entire yarns sprouting. According to the laboratory tests and definitions given by the FLOOR COVERING DICTIONARY this carpet falls a shy of the ‘85% generally acceptable level. However, many mills feel comfortable with these kinds of numbers. Numbers around 50 percent often lead to a severe piling and fuzzing problem. The tuft bind tests also indicates an unimpressive result, however it does meet minimum FHA Standards.
The pulled yarns near baseboards have a high probability of being the result of knee-kicker tears. However, the pulled yarns under bed do not clearly fit that pattern. The field testing indicates that typical consumer related factors are not present for latex or yarn problems. The jagged seam going into the upstairs bedroom at the stair landing could be the result of a dull blade in the installer’s knife of an inexperience helper making the cut.
CONCLUSION
The fuzzy appearance in this carpet is related to the quality of latex penetration.