Stop Mark Tension Variation
This report was done for a manufacturer
PROBLEM REPORTED: Lines
DIAGRAM: No
SAMPLES: None
THE CARPET
FIBER Nylon
ID METHOD: Chemical
FIBER COLOR Beige
CONSTRUCTION: Conventional Tuft
YARN STYLE: Saxony
SQUARE YARDAGE: 160
BACK SYSTEM: Conventional Tuft
PRIMARY BACKING: Polypropylene
SECONDARY BACKING: Polypropylene
INSTALLATION STATISTICS
TYPE LOCATION: Residential
METHOD: Stretch-In
CUSHION: 1/2 Inch Rebond
SUBFLOOR: Plywood
AREA INSTALLED: Diningroom, Livingroom, Stairs, & 3 Bedrooms
USE & MAINTENANCE STATISTICS AT THE TIME OF THE INSPECTION
LITERATURE RECEIVED WITH PURCHASE: Yes
ADULTS: 1 - CHILDREN: 0 - PET(S): 0
DO THEY SMOKE? Not Applicable
SPOTTING AGENTS: Not Applicable
TEMPERATURE: 73.0°F - 22.7° C RH 59%
VACUUM TYPE Not Applicable
VACUUM FREQUENCY: See Report
ENTRY-MATS: Yes
SOIL: None Noticed
HEATING TYPE: Forced Air Gas
COOLING TYPE: None
CLEANING: Never Been Cleaned
INSTRUCTIONS FOR THIS REPORT
Assess the problem reported and make a determination of responsible parties.
Site Conditions and Geographical Information
This carpet was installed in an owner-occupied condominium located on the Palos
Verdes Hill overlooking the Los Angeles Basin. The maintenance and condition of this
community and the home was very good.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION MADE TO THE INSPECTOR
The carpet was installed as part of the purchasing, remodeling, and moving in
process. This particular carpet was selected for its easy vacuuming and maintenance at the
advice of the specifier. A line that looked like a seam was noticed immediately while
installed in the master bedroom. There has been no change in the appearance of this line
nor has there been any corrective measure taken at the time of the inspection.
DESCRIPTION OF PROBLEM AREA BY THIS INSPECTOR
A line formed by a depression in the yarns system was immediately noticeable. This room
was 16 feet long and 13 feet seven inches wide. The line ran the width of the carpet up to
a seam on the far side of the room and was two feet six inches from the wall. The line was
more visible than the seam that it was perpendicular to it in the master bedroom, but less
visible than other seams in the installation.
There was no evidence of any kind of cut, loss of twist, or variance in the size or bulk
of the yarns in the line or around the line. There did not appear to be a missing row of
yarns and the depression was less than 1/32 of an inch. There was also no variance in the
color or shade of the yarns. Brushing the line did not make it go away.
The carpet was lifted up under the line and there was no carpet seam, no cushion seam, or
anything unusual about the appearance of the backing. The carpet did not appear to have
been bent or creased.
ON-LOCATION FIELD TESTING
An inspection lamp was used for closer evaluation and to create shadows. This high
intensity lamp is equipped with a 500-watt halogen bulb. The line became more apparent
when the lamp was brought down low and was less noticeable when the light was directly
over the line.
A Pile Direction Test was done using a piece of paper and a pencil. The pile direction of
the carpet was confirmed as running the same direction.
THE ISSUE
The question that I have been asked to address is: what responsibility does the
manufacturer have toward fixing the line?
GUIDELINES FOR EVALUATING THE ISSUE
CRI is The Carpet and Rug Institute of Dalton, Georgia. It is a national trade association
representing the carpet and rug industry. Their membership makes-up 95% of all the carpet
made in the United States. Their publications include standards for residential and
commercial installation, areas of responsibility for manufacturers, dealers, and
installers, and a manual for making claims with a carpet producer. The claims manual would
be one of the applicable documents for deciding claims against a carpet mill.
INDUSTRY STANDARDS & DEFINITIONS
According to the FLOORCOVERING DICTIONARY is says this about STOP MARKS:
STOP MARKS - This condition appears as if a row of tuft was 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
A widthwise line can be created by installation errors such as:
· Bending
· Folding
· Top cutting
· Gaps in cushions seams
However, none of these problems were found, although they were looked for.
Therefore, this line is indicative of something from manufacturing; however, a classic
Stop Mark would have a missing row of yarns. Consequently this line is more likely from a
momentary tension variance in the tufting process and a row of yarns is slightly lower
than the ones before and after it.
Hence this is a manufacturer's responsibility, but written guidelines on whether a
replacement or smaller settlement of sort is not available to this inspector's knowledge.
From a professional opinion, this line should not be considered a flaw that is not
commonly acceptable; however, in this case its visibility is no worse than a typical seam.
CONCLUSION
The lines in the carpet in question was due to random tension variations from the beam
and/or creel during manufacturing and is a manufacturer's responsibility, based upon a
professional opinion.