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Stop MarksThis report was written for the mill.THE CARPET FIBER/ ID METHOD: Nylon FIBER HUE: Beige CONSTRUCTION: Tufted Cut Loop YARN STYLE: Saxony SQUARE YARDAGE: 154 BACK SYSTEM: Conventional Tufted PRIMARY BACKING: Polypropylene SECONDARY BACKING: Polypropylene LOCATION TYPE: Residential DATE INSTALLED: 7/96 METHOD: Stretch-In CUSHION: 1/2 Inch Rebond 6.5 Lb./Sq. Ft. SUBFLOOR: Concrete on the First Level, Plywood on the Second Level. AREA INSTALLED: Living-Room, Stairs, & Bedrooms USE & MAINTENANCE INFORMATION AT THE TIME OF INSPECTION LITERATURE RECEIVED WITH PURCHASE: Not Determined TEMPERATURE: 71.6°F - 22.0° C RH 45% ADULTS: 2 - CHILDREN: 0 - PET(S): 0 DO THEY SMOKE? No SPOTTING AGENTS: None Reported VACUUM/FREQUENCY: Panasonic Upright Weekly ENTRY-MATS? Yes SOIL: None Noticed HEATING TYPE: Central Force Air Gas COOLING TYPE: Central - Electric CLEANING: Never Been Cleaned INSTRUCTION FOR THIS INSPECTION To determine the cause of lines in the carpet in question. THE REPORT Site Conditions and Geographical Information The carpets in question were installed in town-home located in the San Fernando Valley. The maintenance and condition of this property was good. The unit was owner occupied at the time of the inspection. BACKGROUND INFORMATION MADE TO THE INSPECTOR No problems were present with the carpet until two or three days after the installation. Then two lines began to form in the living-room. As time progressed these lines got more noticeable. DESCRIPTION OF PROBLEM AREA BY THIS INSPECTOR The lines ran the width of the carpet. One was seven inches wide and the other was 3/4 inch wide. They were two feet apart from one another and ran unbroken and consistently across the room. Both lines appeared darker than the surrounding carpet. There was no apparent texture or hue variations on the tips or down the shaft of the yarn. There were no differences in hand and no odors. The carpet was pulled back and there was nothing unusual on the cushion or on the secondary. There were oblong marks in the secondary indicating that the carpet was power-stretched. ON-LOCATION FIELD TESTING An inspection lamp was used for closer evaluation and to create shadows. The large spot got a little less noticeable, but did not disappear. The smaller line was unchanged. 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 there were no reflections. Numerous moisture tests were performed using a Delmhorst Moisture Sensor. The results of these tests showed no moisture readings from the affected areas. A detergent test was performed using a towel and dish-washing detergent. No change in appearance was made and there was no hue transfer of any sort onto the towel. THE ISSUE OF THIS REPORT The question that I have been asked to address is :what has caused the carpet to develop lines? GUIDELINES FOR EVALUATING THE ISSUE Widthwise Lines Can Be Caused From 1. Manufacturer’s defects from · tension variations on the beam · stop marks 2. Storage from Roll Crushing 3. Installation errors · lack of stretching · improper bending or fold marks · when cushion seams separate, such as when there is no duct tape covering the seam INDUSTRY STANDARDS, PRACTICES & DEFINITIONS According to the FLOORCOVERING DICTIONARY is says this about STOP MARKS: STOP MARKS - This condition appears as if a row of tuft were missing across the width of the carpet. It is more pronounced looking in loop pile; however, it can occur in any type carpet. The condition is caused when the primary backing moves forward a fraction of an inch after the needle bar is stopped in the up position. Sometimes in cut pile carpet this condition can be minimized by steaming. THE INSPECTOR'S ANALYSIS This problem is very rare and does not fit a classic description of kind of line problem. Roll crushing would have been noticed immediately. Soiling conditions would have been removed or diminished immediately. Also, none of the installation errors that could have created this problem were present. Based upon the photographs this problem is the result of texture variations and not hue differences. CONCLUSION The width wise line in the carpet in question was due to stop marks. |