Side Match from Ultra-Violet Reflection
This report was done for the mill and the reflections were likely from seam sealer. Not a classic sidematch report.
THE CARPETFIBER/ ID METHOD: 90% Polyester 10 % Nylon-According To Manufacturer
FIBER HUE: Blue
CONSTRUCTION: Tufted Loop
YARN STYLE: Saxony
SQUARE YARDAGE: 45
BACK SYSTEM: Conventional Tufted
PRIMARY BACKING: Polypropylene
SECONDARY BACKING: Polypropylene
THE INSTALLATION
METHOD: Stretch-In
SUBFLOOR: Concrete
AREA INSTALLED: Living-Room, Dining-Room, Hall, & Two Closets
USE & MAINTENANCE INFORMATION AT THE TIME OF INSPECTION
LITERATURE RECEIVED WITH PURCHASE: No
TEMPERATURE: 69°F - 20.5° C RH 25%
ADULTS: 1 - CHILDREN: 0 - PET(S): 0
DO THEY SMOKE? No
SPOTTING AGENTS: None Yet
VACUUM/FREQUENCY: Upright Monthly
ENTRY-MATS? Yes
SOIL: None Noticed
HEATING TYPE: Floor Unit Gas
COOLING TYPE: None
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 carpet was laid in the claimant’s free standing single story house located in a residential neighborhood on the western edge of the Los Angeles Basin. The house was well maintained and was owner occupied at the time of the inspection.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION MADE TO THE INSPECTOR
Two or three days after the installation problems were noticed at the seam adjoining the living-room and hall. The carpet on the hall side appeared to be more of an evening blue and at one point in the living-room side the carpet appeared to have more of a green hue. Little change has occurred since the problem was noticed and no corrections had been attempted.
DESCRIPTION OF PROBLEM AREA BY THIS INSPECTOR
A hue difference at the seam between the living-room and hall was immediately noticeable and an irregular shaped spot measuring approximately 14 by 17 inches was noted on the living-room side of the seam. The boundaries of this spot were poorly defined. There were no texture variations noted and the hand of the carpet did not feel different. No variation of color could be noticed between the tip and the shaft of the affected yarns. The hue of the rest of the carpet appeared to have no problems.
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ON-LOCATION FIELD TESTING
An inspection lamp was used for closer evaluation and the hue difference was more pronounced under the light and the boundaries were still poorly defined.
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.
A comparison on shade differences was conducted using a gray scale from the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists so as to evaluate changes in color.
The contrast between hues is less than or equal to "4" generally is an acceptable problem..
The result of tests were better than a "3" at the most intense point on this scale.
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.
An ultra-violet light was used to draw a reflection from substances with optical brightening agents. Yellow reflection will come from most urine stains; a blue or lavender reflection from detergents. The result of this test revealed that there was still a strong difference between the hues under the ultra-violet light but the boundaries were still poorly defined.
Numerous pH tests were taken using a digital type pH meter and a special low moisture probe that made direct contact with the face yarns.
· The pH in the non-affected areas of the living-room varied between 5.3 and 5.4
· in the affected area they were between 5.2 and 5.3
· on the hall-side they were between 5.6 and 5.7
A bleach test was performed using a test kit from COLOR MATCH SYSTEMS and revealed that there were no bleaching agents in the light spot.
THE ISSUE
The question that I have been asked to address is: what has caused the carpet to have a side match?
GUIDELINES FOR EVALUATING THE ISSUE
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. there is a difference in lighting condition
5. there is a difference hue
INDUSTRY STANDARDS & DEFINITIONS
The CLAIMS POLICY GUIDELINES in section 7 says this about sidematch claims:
Claims will not be considered for sidematch on different dye lots. Color may differ slightly from dye lot to dye lot. Because of manufacturing variances, sidematch of pattern carpet cannot be guaranteed: therefore claims cannot be considered. Additional carpet yardage may be required for the installation of patterned carpet. No claims will be considered for slight color or texture variation between merchandise shipped to the dealer and his display samples. (See Chapter 10 of the Specific’s Guide for Contract Carpet Installation and The Carpet Specific’s Handbook, both published by CRI).
The unknown spot is defined by the Flooring Covering Dictionary by the following definition. Spots can be caused by a number of things. If the spot was not present when the carpet was installed, there is a 99 + 1 change that it was caused by spillage, tracking or some local agent. It could be related to something the installer used or product found in the home. Spots do not "appear" for some unknown reason after installation. If they have a pattern, they may be related to the manufacturing of the carpet. If they are randomly spaced, they are caused locally.
THE INSPECTOR'S ANALYSIS
This problem has more similarities with a spot than it does with a side match, but as a side match it does appear to be a hue difference whose contrast is sufficient to qualify it as unacceptable problem. The source of this problem is best understood by its ultra-violet reflection.
Manufacturing related problems generally have repetitions to them and if fluorescent material is used in the fiber, its distribution would be uniform and not in spots. The best clue for the source then is the irregular shape of the spot which suggests that it is the result of something spilled on the carpet after manufacturing.
- The moisture test does not indicate any heavy residual salt of a water soluble nature.
- The pH testing indicates that the affected side of the carpet has come in contact with an acidic substance.
Seaming adhesives some times get onto the face yarn. If this were the case and it was cleaned up, then the fluorescent dye used in most seam sealers could be left behind. However, chances are the seam sealer would be on both sides of the seam and in some cases the solvent smell could or should be left behind. None was noticed.
Another scenario would be that the edge of the carpet had a spot or was soiled. If the cleaning detergent with optical brightener were used, the reflective dye could have been left behind. The pH contrast between one side of the panel is barely significant but would indicate that an acid residue is more prominent on the affected side. Since most detergents are alkaline, this theory is also flawed.
CONCLUSION
The carpet in question has a side match problem due to a localized spill of foreign substance that contained fluorescent dye that is not inherent in the manufacturing process. The hue differences were beyond acceptable STANDARDS, based upon the gray scale test and is the result of an accident that occurred after manufacturing based upon its irregular shape and size.