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Line Disappears in WidthThis report was done for the mill.THE CARPET FIBER/ ID METHOD: Nylon-Chemical FIBER HUE: Rose & Pink CONSTRUCTION: Tufted YARN STYLE: Cut & Loop Sculpture SQUARE YARDAGE: 28.67 BACK SYSTEM: Conventional Tufted PRIMARY BACKING: Polypropylene SECONDARY BACKING: Polypropylene THE INSTALLATION LOCATION TYPE: Residential METHOD: Stretch-In CUSHION: 7/16 Inch Rebond 6 Lb./Sq. Ft. SUBFLOOR: Concrete AREA INSTALLED: Livingroom USE & MAINTENANCE INFORMATION AT THE TIME OF INSPECTION LITERATURE RECEIVED WITH PURCHASE: Not Determined TEMPERATURE: 66.5°F - 19.1° C RH 58% ADULTS: 2 - CHILDREN: 0 - PET(S): 1 - Cat DO THEY SMOKE? Yes SPOTTING AGENTS: Nature's Miracle VACUUM/FREQUENCY: Upright Weekly ENTRY-MATS: Yes SOIL: None Noticed HEATING TYPE: In-Direct, In-Floor, Electric Heat COOLING TYPE: Ventilation CLEANING: None REASON FOR COMMISSION To determine what caused the line. THE REPORT Site Conditions and Geographical Information The carpet was laid in the claimant’s free standing single story house located in a residential neighborhood on the northern edge of the San Gabriel Valley high in the foothills. The house was well maintained and was owner occupied at the time of the inspection. BACKGROUND INFORMATION MADE TO THE INSPECTOR A line was noticed immediately after the carpet was installed. The carpet was laid from one roll with no seams. The dealer and a representative from the mill looked at the line and attempted to brush it out. No improvements were made. Reportedly the heating system which had electrical wires in the concrete floor had not been used. According to the dealer, there were no cushion seams under the carpet and the concrete was completely smooth. On December 17, 1996 this inspector informed the claimant that the line from the sample taken had disappeared. A request was made for a second visit. On December 18, 1996 the claimant applied steam to the line with a steam iron and the line nearly disappeared. The claimant appeared to be satisfied with the condition of the carpet. DESCRIPTION OF PROBLEM AREA BY THIS INSPECTOR The line was located approximately two feet from the wall and ran the width of the carpet. Its appearance changed slightly when viewed from different directions. Looking directly over the line made it almost undetectable. It did not follow the same stitch-roll across the width of the carpet. It did not appear that a row of tuft were missing across the width. A remnant of the carpet had the same problem and a sample was taken. After laying the remnant on a shelf, the line disappeared. ON-LOCATION FIELD TESTING Brushing made no difference on the line at the time of the inspection. THE ISSUE OF THIS REPORT The question that I have been asked to address is :what has caused the line? GUIDELINES FOR EVALUATING THE ISSUE Widthwise Lines Can Be Caused From 1. Storage from Roll Crushing 2. Manufacturer’s defects from · stop marks · tension variations on the beam 3. Installation errors · lack of stretching · improper bending or fold marks · when cushion seams separate, such as when there is no duct tape covering the seam INDUSTRY STANDARDS, PRACTICES & DEFINITIONS According to the FLOORCOVERING DICTIONARY is says this about STOP MARKS: STOP MARKS - This condition appears as if a row of tuft were missing across the width of the carpet. It is more pronounced looking in loop pile; however, it can occur in any type carpet. The condition is caused when the primary backing moves forward a fraction of an inch after the needle bar is stopped in the up position. Sometimes in cut pile carpet this condition can be minimized by steaming. THE INSPECTOR'S ANALYSIS The only manufacturing line that runs the width of the carpet is a stop mark and it can vary to some degree depending upon how it was made. However, in a cut and loop style carpet like this one a lasting impression should have been left for verification. Thus this line just does not fit that description. Since the line disappeared with heat, there is a high probability that it was created from tension being placed upon a row of yarn and seemed to have gone away at the time of the writing of this report. CONCLUSION The line in the carpet in question was due to tension variations from a source not related to manufacturing based upon the definition for STOP MARKS and the manner in which the problem was resolved. |