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Matting and Crushing from No Cleaning and Power StretchingThis is a simple little report done for the carpet mill.THE CLAIM STATISTICS PROBLEM REPORTED: Wearing & Matting PROBLEM FOUND: Matting & Crushing WAS A DIAGRAM MADE?: No SAMPLES FROM INSPECTION: None Taken PERSONS PRESENT: Inspector & Claimant THE CARPET FIBER/ ID METHOD: Nylon - Staple-Chemical FIBER HUE: Tan CONSTRUCTION: Tufted Cut Pile YARN STYLE: Saxony SQUARE YARDAGE: Not Given BACK SYSTEM: Conventional Tufted PRIMARY BACKING: Polypropylene SECONDARY BACKING: Polypropylene THE INSTALLATION LOCATION TYPE: Residential METHOD: Stretch-In CUSHION: 1/2 Inch Rebond 7 Lb./Cu. Ft. SUBFLOOR: Plywood AREA INSTALLED: Living-Room, Stairs, Landing USE & MAINTENANCE INFORMATION AT THE TIME OF INSPECTION LITERATURE RECEIVED WITH PURCHASE: Yes TEMPERATURE: 79°F - 26.1° C RH 33% ADULTS: 2 - CHILDREN: 2 - PET(S): 1 - Outside Dog DO THEY SMOKE? No SPOTTING AGENTS: Consumer Type VACUUM/FREQUENCY: Upright Two Or Three Times A Week ENTRY-MATS? Yes SOIL: Slightly Soiled HEATING TYPE: Forced Air Gas COOLING TYPE: Central - Electric CLEANING: Never Been Cleaned REASON FOR COMMISSION The carpet was reportedly wearing and matting. THE REPORT Site Conditions and Geographical Information This is a free standing, owner occupied, two-story house located in a rural and hill area of the Angeles Crest Mountains. The house was reasonably maintained and the claimant is a stay-at-home mom. BACKGROUND INFORMATION MADE TO THE INSPECTOR The carpet was originally purchased with stain resistance in mind because of the two children. Stain resistance was reportedly good, but after about nine months, the carpet began to crush and mat. Responses from the dealer were reportedly infrequent and not responsive to the claimant’s comfort zone. DESCRIPTION OF PROBLEM AREA BY THIS INSPECTOR The carpet was crushed and matted in all but areas protected completely by heavy furniture. Untrafficked pile height was approximately 5/16 inches height and crushed area was approximately 3/16 inches high. Loss of twist was confined to the tips of the yarns. There was some fuzzing that was still attached to the yarns and some fuzz-balls. The carpet was easily pulled back from the tackless strip and there was no evidence of power-stretching. ON-LOCATION FIELD TESTING Numerous moisture tests were performed using a Delmhorst Moisture Sensor. This test would indicate the presence of moisture locked-up in salt compounds from urine and detergents. The results of these tests showed no moisture throughout the installation. THE ISSUE The question that I had been asked to address is: what caused the carpet to crush and mat?. GUIDELINES FOR EVALUATING THE ISSUE Crushing and Matting Problems can Occur when: 1. crushing and matting are indicative of the yarn 2. yarns fail to meet their design specification as set by the manufacturer 3. a soil attracting residue is in the carpet 4. there has been improper installation of the carpet. INDUSTRY STANDARDS & DEFINITIONS Number eight of the CRI CLAIMS MANUAL says this: "Pile crushing, pile shading, and soiling are not manufacturing defects and will not be considered as a basis for claims. Claims for fuzzing and pilling will be subjected to examination and testing by the manufacturer. Claims for missing tufts will not be considered except on a basis of repair. No claims will be honored for carpet installed on stairs, in elevators and in bathrooms. The mill reserves the right to correct any repairable manufacturing defect. (See Glossary for definition of terms)." 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. THE INSPECTOR'S ANALYSIS Nylon is a resilient fiber compared to other synthetic fibers and defects inherent in the manufacturing of the carpet were not noticed. Better performance will be realized with professional cleaning. Additional performance would be achieved if the carpet were power stretched. CONCLUSION Matting and crushing in the carpet in question was due to soiling and lack of power stretching based upon observations made at the time of the inspection. |