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Side Match from Peaked SeamsThis report was done for the carpet mill and the The side match problem in the carpet in question was due to problems inherent in the installation.THE CARPET FIBER/ ID METHOD: Nylon COLOR: Off White CONSTRUCTION: Tufted Cut Loop STYLE: Saxony SQUARE YARDAGE: 150 & 45 BACK SYSTEM: Conventional Tufted PRIMARY BACKING: Polypropylene SECONDARY BACKING: Polypropylene THE INSTALLATION TYPE OF SITE: Residential DATE INSTALLED: 10/9/95 METHOD: Stretch-In CUSHION: 1/2 Inch Rebond 7 Lb./Sq. Ft. SUBFLOOR: Concrete on the First Level, Ply-wood on the Second Level. AREA INSTALLED: Living-Room, Family Room, 5 Bedrooms, Hall, & Closets USE & MAINTENANCE INFORMATION AT THE TIME OF INSPECTION LITERATURE RECEIVED WITH PURCHASE: Not Determined TEMPERATURE: 75.3°F RELATIVE HUMIDITY: 35% ADULTS: 2 - CHILDREN: 2 - PET(S): 1 - Dog DO THEY SMOKE? No SPOTTING AGENTS: None Reported VACUUM TYPE: Upright FREQUENCY: Weekly ENTRY MATS: Yes SOIL: None Noticed HEATING TYPE: Central Force Air Gas COOLING TYPE: Central - Electric CLEANING: Never Been Cleaned REASON FOR COMMISSION The carpet’s hue reportedly does not match at the seam. THE REPORT Site Conditions and Geographical Information The carpets were located in the claimant’s free standing two story house. This house was located in a residential neighborhood on the southern edge of the San Fernando 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 Carpet in this house was replaced due to damages sustained from the Northridge Earthquake. Unsightly seams were noticed immediately upon the completion of the installation. These seams were located in the living-room, family-room, and master-bedroom. The dealer suggested that in time the appearance of the seams would improve. DESCRIPTION OF PROBLEM AREA BY THIS INSPECTOR One seam in the living-room ran approximately 14 feet in length with one panel measuring 11 feet 9 inches and the other measuring 11 feet and 4 inches in width. The panel on the front side of the house was darker than the other side regardless of which direction it was viewed from. Windows were on the front, back, and backside of this room. Lighting conditions changed the appearance, but did not reverse the light and dark sides. The carpet was pulled up and a cushion seam was found to run parallel and directly under the carpet seam. This condition existed for as far as the claimant’s arm could reach. There was no duct tape on this seam. Furthermore the seam had a bumpy feel to it throughout its length. The master-bedroom seam was located parallel to the sliding glass door that was less than a foot away. No cushion seams were found under this section. It was noted that the seam was lighter on the window side. The family-room seam split the room down its center, but no evaluations were made as to the cushion and the sub-floor. It too was dark on one side of the seam and lighter on the other. This condition did not reverse when viewed from different directions and again the yarns had no visible differences in twist, bulk, or size. The hue of the yarn was consistent from one yarn to the next. The yarn was also the same from the tip of the yarn to its base. No yarns were longer than the others. The spacing between the rows and columns was consistent. 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 hue difference disappeared under direct light. 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 on both sides of the seam. THE ISSUE OF THIS REPORT The question that I have been asked to address is: what has caused the side match? GUIDELINES FOR EVALUATING THE ISSUE Sidematch Problems Can Occur When: 1. there is a difference in pile height 2. there is a difference in lighting condition 3. there is a difference in shade 4. there is a difference in pile direction 5. there is a difference in texture INDUSTRY STANDARDS, PRACTICES & DEFINITIONS Concerning the Layout of Seams of the carpet the CRI105 says this on page 12: 8.2 Seams - Seams shall be kept to a minimum. The seams shall be positioned so that where possible: · The seams run the length of the area. · Main traffic runs along rather than across the seam. · Incident light does not strike across the seam. · The seams are away from areas subject to pivoting traffic. · Seams are not perpendicular to doorway openings. Concerning carpet cushion on Residential stretch-in-installations the CRI105 says this from page 14: 9.5 Cushion Installed Wall-to-Wall Cushion should be securely fastened to the subfloor with staples or nonflammable cushion adhesive around the perimeter of the installation. Seams shall be secured with staples or nonflammable cushion adhesive. However, tape -- such as duct tape -- shall be used for most seams on rubber cushion. These procedures are used to prevent shifting of the cushion during and after the installation. Cushion is to be installed in the longest continuous lengths possible. The cushion seams should not be installed directly under the carpet seams. Generally, they should be placed at right angles to the carpet seams. When this is not practical shift the cushion so that seams are at least 6 inches (150 mm) to one side of the carpet seams. THE INSPECTOR'S ANALYSIS The light testing, yarn observations, variances in lighting and pile direction testing rule out texture, pile-direction, shade and lighting conditions as being culprits. This leaves pile-height or more specifically a ‘peaks seam’ as the problem. Whereas seams are generally peaked a little, these three seam peaks are creating side-match problems. Two rules for installation have been violated that contributed to the problem. .The rules violated are Section 8.2 Incident light does not strike across the seam and Section 9.5 cushion seams should not be installed directly under the carpet seams. CONCLUSION The side match problem in the carpet in question was due to problems inherent in the installation based upon observations and field testing. |