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Pile Height Difference in ShearingThe pile height was not the seam on each side of the panel creating a sidematch. This report is also listed under Design Flaws. THE CARPETFIBER/ ID METHOD: Nylon 6-Manufacturer's Specification FIBER MANUFACTURER: Allied FIBER NAME: Wear-Dated Traffic Control COLOR: Beige CONSTRUCTION: Tufted Cut Loop STYLE: Saxony Plush SQUARE YARDAGE: 140 BACK SYSTEM: Conventional Tufted PRIMARY BACKING: Polypropylene SECONDARY BACKING: Polypropylene THE INSTALLATION TYPE OF SITE: Residential DATE INSTALLED: 9/13/95 METHOD: Stretch-In CUSHION: 1/2 Inch Urethane Prime SUBFLOOR: 1" x 6" hardwood except for family room which is concrete AREA INSTALLED: Livingroom,Diningroom, Family Room, Hallway, Two Bedrooms And Bathroom. USE & MAINTENANCE INFORMATION AT THE TIME OF INSPECTION LITERATURE RECEIVED WITH PURCHASE: Yes ADULTS: 2 CHILDREN: 0 PETS: 0 TEMPERATURE: 76.0°F - 24.4° C RELATIVE HUMIDITY: 51% VACUUM TYPE: Royal 4.5 Horsepower Canister FREQUENCY: Weekly DO THEY SMOKE? No ENTRY MATS: Yes CONDITION of THE CARPET: Very Good SOIL: None Noticeable HEATING TYPE: Central Force Air Gas COOLING TYPE: Central - Electric HOME SPOTTING AGENTS: None CLEANING: Never Been Cleaned REASON FOR COMMISSION The carpet’s hue reportedly does not match at the seam. THE REPORT Geographical Background Information The carpet in question is located in the claimant’s residence, which is a free standing house in a residential neighborhood. This house is 15 miles east-north-east of the Pacific Ocean and seven miles west-north-west of down-town Los Angeles. The condition and maintenance of the house and the neighborhood is good. THE CLAIM HISTORY ACCORDING TO THE CLAIMANT This homeowner noticed a shade difference before the seams were brought together. This problem was located in the livingroom, family room and the dining room. It was reportedly said by the installer that the problem would be over-come. After the completion of the installation the seams looked the same. Sears reportedly recommended ‘Steaming The Carpet’ to correct the problem. The claimant expressed concern about changes in texture and potential resoiling. Reportedly numerous people including the original installers, sales people from Sears and others all have acknowledged the problem. According to the claimant their primary concerns are with the living-room and family room and not so much with the dining-room. Also, the claimant made it clear that his claim would not be easily dismissed. DETAIL PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION BY THE INSPECTOR Upon entering the home, the problem was not immediately obvious until the claimant pointed it out. The issue concerns two seams, one of which ran the length of the house from the livingroom into the family room and was broken in two by a room-divider. The other seam was located in the dining room between the far wall and the dining-room table. On one side of the seam, the carpet was lighter and on the other side it was darker. This shade difference varied as it was viewed from different directions and with different lighting. The dining-room problem was less noticeable. Close inspection of the yarn revealed no difference with respect to size, bulk, density, or loss of twist. There was no apparent matting or crushing differences. No other problems were noticed throughout the installation. FIELD TESTING A comparison on shade differences was made using the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists. gray scale for evaluating changes in color The result of this test was a five as seen in photograph numbers one and two. An inspection lamp was used for a closer evaluation. This high intensity light is equipped with two five hundred watt halogen bulbs. The results of this test revealed that the shade difference completely disappeared as seen in photograph number two. A pile direction test was done using a plain piece of paper and an ordinary pencil. The results of this testing was difficult to determine. Results were sometimes confusing. The final conclusion was that the carpet lays the same direction throughout the living-room, dining-room, and family room. Multiple evaluations were made for power stretching, the use of a seaming adhesive, the location of cushion, and the use of proper cutting tools. The results of these examinations showed a high degree of skill and total compliance to standards. The installer also prepared accurate drawings of the entire house showing every seam. THE ISSUE OF THIS REPORT The question that I have been asked to address is: what has caused the carpet to have a sidematch? CONDITIONS THAT CAN CAUSE THE PROBLEM Sidematch Problems Can Occur When: 1. there is a difference in shade 2. there is a difference in pile direction 3. there is a difference in texture 4. difference in lighting condition 5. difference in pile height INDUSTRY STANDARDS, PRACTICES & DEFINITIONS The standards for this report are the CRI CLAIMS POLICY GUIDELINES and the CRI105 RESIDENTIAL INSTALLATION STANDARDS. THE INSPECTORS' ANALYSIS It is clear that a side match problem has occurred and that pile height is the primary contributor to the problem. There is nothing that suggests that roll crushing has occurred. Other factors to consider are:
Thus, shearing inherent in manufacturing is the most likely cause of this difference. CONCLUSION The side match problem is caused by a pile height differences based upon the light test. RECOMMENDATIONS There is clearly only two solutions for fixing this carpet. 1. Change the lighting in the house by increasing the number of fixtures, so as to eliminate the shadows. 2. Decrease the pile height. (An electric-micro-sheering machine is recommended.) Truckmounted Steam Cleaning with just water would only have a mild effect on aligning the yarns with modest improvements on correcting the problem. Things Not to do:
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