Side Match from Installation ErrorsThe panels were too wide.THE CARPET FIBER/ ID METHOD: Nylon FIBER HUE: Off White CONSTRUCTION: Tufted Cut Loop YARN STYLE: Saxony SQUARE YARDAGE: 263 BACK SYSTEM: Conventional Tufted PRIMARY BACKING: Polypropylene SECONDARY BACKING: Polypropylene THE INSTALLATION TYPE OF SITE: Residential DATE INSTALLED: 10/4/96 METHOD: Stretch-In CUSHION: 1/2 Inch Rebond SUBFLOOR: Concrete on the First Level, Plywood on the Second Level. AREA INSTALLED: Living-Room, Family-Room, Stairs, Bedrooms, And Bonus Room USE & MAINTENANCE INFORMATION AT THE TIME OF INSPECTION LITERATURE RECEIVED WITH PURCHASE: Not Determined TEMPERATURE: 67.2°F - 19.5° C RH 39% ADULTS: 2 - CHILDREN: 2 - PET(S): 1 - Rabbit DO THEY SMOKE? No SPOTTING AGENTS: None Reported VACUUM/FREQUENCY: Hoover Upright Not Determined ENTRY-MATS: No SOIL: None Noticed HEATING TYPE: Central Force Air Gas COOLING TYPE: Central - Electric CLEANING: See Report REASON FOR COMMISSION The carpet’s hue reportedly does not match at the seam. THE REPORT Site Conditions and Geographical Information The carpet was located in the claimant’s free standing two story house. This house was located in a secured and gated residential community on the northern edge of the San Fernando Valley up high on the hills. The house was less than a month old and construction was going on with other houses on the street. This dwelling was owner occupied at the time of the inspection. BACKGROUND INFORMATION MADE TO THE INSPECTOR A problem with the seams in the carpet was noticed before the claimants moved-in; particularly the dark seam in the living-room. The builder reportedly said that the spot would be cleaned before the claimants moving-in. Upon moving in the problem was not fixed and focus was now placed on the following: the line in the living room, a similar line in the family-room, a sidematch in the master-bedroom, and an obvious seam in the bonus room. DESCRIPTION OF PROBLEM AREA BY THIS INSPECTOR This inspector could not see the line in the living-room immediately, because he was looking for a sidematch. This line was 1/2 inch wide and ran inconsistently down this 14 foot seam. The widths of carpet on each side of the seam was measured at 12 feet from the front-walls’ edge and 11 feet six inches on the other side. There was no texture difference in the line and no apparent hue difference except to say that it was darker. It was more intense from three feet to seven feet from the entrance. Spreading the yarns apart did not reveal any differences in hue down the shaft of the yarn. The seam in the family-room was similar in appearance but the darkness of the hue was not as pronounced. This seam was also measured at 12 feet from the wall’s edges. The seam in the master-bedroom was two feet and parallel from a sliding glass door. Underneath the seam was a cushion seam running the same direction but off set by six inches towards the sliding-glass door. The seaming-tape was less than six inches wide. The secondary backing had oblong-marks in the mash that indicates that the carpet was power-stretched. The seam in the bonus room was also parallel with the natural light source, but was 12 feet from the wall. Loose yarns were found in this seam. These yarns had little or no bundle wrap. There were no actual voids in the carpet.nor was there evidence of pulled yarns in trafficked areas. ON-LOCATION FIELD TESTING An inspection lamp was used in these two rooms for closer evaluation and to create shadows. This high intensity lamp is equipped with a 200 watt halogen bulb. The dark line in the living-room got more obvious under this light. 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. The result of this test revealed that the line in the living-room had a lavender reflection. No other area of the carpet had any reflection. A general spotting agent by Groom Industries called Perky SpotterŪ was applied to a towel and the towel was blotted onto the line in the living-room. The results of this test revealed no changes in appearance. Numerous moisture tests were performed using a Delmhorst Moisture Sensor. The results of these tests revealed that there were no moisture readings. THE ISSUE OF THIS REPORT The question that I choose to address is: what caused the seam-line in the living-room, family-room, and bonus room, and the sidematch in the master-bedroom? GUIDELINES FOR EVALUATING THE ISSUE Seam Lines Can Occur When: 1. there is improper trimming of the selvage edge 2. there is a hue difference in the dyeing process Sidematch Problems Can Occur When: 1. there is a difference in lighting condition 2. there is a difference in shade 3. there is a difference in pile direction 4. there is a difference in texture 5. there is a difference in pile height INDUSTRY STANDARDS, PRACTICES & DEFINITIONS Concerning cushion laid loose, the CRI105 says this on page 14: 9.6 Cushion Installed Loose - Felt cushion seam are to be sewn with stitches not more that one inch (25 mm) apart and at least one inch from the seam edges. Foam cushion seams are to be covered with vinyl coated fabric tape or duct tape. Eight-inch to ten-inch (200 to 250 mm) strips of tape are to be placed at right angles to the seam at 18-inch (450 mm) intervals. Tape is to be applied to full length of seam. Concerning layout and cutting, the CRI105 says this: 9.7 Layout and Cutting - Following the seaming diagram, cut sufficient length of carpet that will cover the entire area. Where pattern matches are involved, sufficient carpet must be allowed for the match, plus extra carpet (3 inches) on each cut for trimming. Trim all edges that are to be used for seaming at least 1 inch on each side. (NOTE: The selvage of some woven carpet must not be trimmed. The manufacturer’s recommendations should be followed). THE INSPECTOR'S ANALYSIS The high intensity light indicates that something other than a shadow was present in the dark line. The ultra-violet light indicates that a spotting attempt was performed. Since this probable attempt was unsuccessful the problem is likely from either hue or texture differences. In this case though, even if there was a hue or texture difference, it would not matter because the standards require trimming the selvage edge. The primary reason the standards require trimming the carpet’s edge is due to latex reaching the edge of the carpet during manufacturing. An additional problem could lie with the dyeing process. However, despite the fact that these problems are inherent in manufacturing, it is clearly the installer’s responsibility to trim the carpet until there are no problems. The 12 foot width of the panels and the loose yarn with little bundle wrap is strong evidence that trimming was not done. The sidematch in the master-bedroom is a classic case of running a seam parallel and too close to a natural light source and again is a problem that is installation related. The cushion seam under the carpet seam is in compliance with the standards but is not a good practice. Finally the seaming tape on ‘crucial seams’ should be six inches wide. CONCLUSION The sidematch, and dark line problems are the result of installation error, based upon the observations and measurements made. |