Handy Hints - Carpet Troubleshooter
Carpet Troubleshooter:
Colour Matching | Samples | Shedding | Pulled Loops | Sprouting | Shading | Static | Fading on wool
Pile Reversal | Indentations | Flattening | Soiling | Installation
Carpets are produced in batches - known as creels- and usually each batch produces between 500m2 - 3000m2 in a single width, depending on the creel size. Whilst the recipe used by the dyer remains constant, and is followed to the letter, in each separate production the colour reproduction will vary from batch to batch. However production is matched back to the original or master sample to ensure the colour remains "within commercial tolerance".
This process is not an exact science and a commercial tolerance is subjective but nevertheless is usually the professional judgement of the head dyer based on his or her experience.
A greater level of tolerance on blended colours (heathers etc). To ensure perfect colour matching it is advisable that a single width be used in any installation requiring exact colour matching.
N.B Carpets that are laid with the pile travelling in different directions, even thought they are from the same batch will appear not to match.
The samples held in our showrooms may not be from the same batch as current production and therefore should be used as a guide only and not an exact colour match.
All cut pile carpets will lose short fibre. Which is created during production when spun pile is cut for tuft formation. These fibres fall onto the surface of the pile and appear as "fluff".
The effect varies with yarn type and may be removed without detrimental effect upon the carpet by vacuum cleaning. This excess fibre is only a small fraction of the total fibre contained in the carpet.
Pulled loops occur only in loop pile carpets where one or more loops in the continuous pile is pulled through the primary backing of the carpet. This is usually due to some local condition, possibly some sharp object which has caught in a loop in situ and has resulted in a pull. Pets especially cats are prone to pulling loops in this style of carpet. Pulled loops are easily dealt with by trimming the offending end level with the rest of the pile. They should not be left as this could result in further loops being pulled and developing in to a ladder.
Occasionally an odd tuft or two can work its way to the surface and stand proud of the rest of the pile. This is probably due to one end of the tuft being longer than the other i.e. J shape tuft instead of a V shaped. Remedial action merely requires that the offending tufts be trimmed level with the rest of the pile. They should never be pulled out.
Shading occurs because the pile of the carpet has become crushed, flattened or brushed in a different direction to the natural of the pile while in situ. This causes the light reflection at different angles resulting in the creation of light and dark patches on the carpet. This will occur on all pile fabrics but can be more noticeable on plainer carpets because the shadows created by pile pressure will not be disguised by a heavy pattern or design.
Carpets do not produce static but like other household fabrics and objects have the capacity to store it. Static is caused by the build up of a static electricity on personnel in a dry environment and is discharged when a person makes contact with an object that which can conduct electricity (i.e. door handle or filing cabinets, etc).
The static charges will vary in intensity depending upon the individual, air humidity and the contact materials. Static is more usually associated with synthetic materials as they do not retain moisture very well but it can and will occur with wool in very dry room conditions.
Preventive measures include the introduction of moisture into the room or in situ carpet treatment.
Carpets made from wool can and do fade in use. The degree of fade can vary depending on colour selected and the local conditions to which the carpet is subjected.
Fading can be caused by exposure to ultra violet light which is found in daylight, but is accelerated when sunlight shines directly onto the carpet. This has the effect of lightening or "bleaching" the colour just as exposure to sunlight will lighten human hair. Wool is after all animal hair.
Protection should be given to carpets exposed to such conditions just as you would protect other furniture or fabrics.
Like shading this occurs when the pile or the nap of the carpet changes and thus reflects light at different angles showing the effects of shading which can become permanent. It is also described as "watermarking". This can happen to every carpet construction be it Axminster, Wilton, Tufted, Hand Woven. Persian, Chinese, Indian or even Coir Matting. Like shading it can be more apparent on plain carpet because heavy patterns can disguise the effects. It can occur quite quickly after installation. A tremendous amount of research has been carried out over many years by many institutes to determine the cause of this phenomenon but none of it has been proved conclusively. There is no commonly known manufacturing process, which can cause or cure this phenomenon and therefore it is not a manufacturing fault. For further information please check with individual manufacturers recommendations.
When a carpet is subject to a heavy point load, such as under the legs of furniture, it is unreasonable to expect the carpet not to indent. Usually, the longer the load is in place the longer the time for the carpet to recover. In the case of very heavy loads in place for a long period of time, the recovery time can be very considerable,
It must be remembered that this is not only the pile of the carpet that becomes indented. The underlay will also indent and the backing of the carpet may also distort into the indentation in the underlay. Some underlay's will recover well and some not so well depending on their composition, thickness, density etc.
The use of cups under furniture legs can spread the load and the net result is a larger area of less deeply indented carpet.
Often normal maintenance (vacuum cleaning with a rotating brush machine) will speed up recovery but in the case of serious indentations the use of an iron and a damp cloth or a steam iron together with a blunt darning needle to carefully tease up the pile can be beneficial. Care must be taken not to over wet the carpet of course.
Flattening will occur as a result of traffic, which eventually flattens the pile particularly in the main areas of use. All pile fabrics will flatten to a greater or lesser degree dependant on the amount of traffic to which it is subjected and the construction (tuft density/pile fibre/height/weight) of the product concerned.
Soiling is usually the result of some local condition to which the carpet has been subjected to, or maintenance, or lack of maintenance programme. There is nothing a manufacturer can do to prevent soiling in use. There are several types of soiling which are quite common.
Spillages - liquids such as soft drinks, cordials or any drink which contains sugar, particularly hot drinks, is likely to leave a stain. In such instances, professional help should be sought.
Shampoo - if incorrectly applied, can leave sticky soap residues in the fibres which can result in the soiling reappearing quite rapidly.
Dust - which is carried on draughts can soil carpets in various ways, apart from the obvious soiled edges, at gaping skirting boards for instance, dark lines appearing on the surface might suggest airborne dust vacuum drawn through poorly fitted floorboards. Sometimes the shape of floorboards can be seen quite clearly. Air borne dust sometimes shows itself as spots on the carpet , this is due to the air carried on a draught under the carpet escaping through minute holes both in the underlay and the carpet, leaving dust deposited on the pile like a filter action. In such installations, the use of lining paper is essential as a preventative measure.
In keeping with most manufacturers recommendations, an experienced carpet fitter should be used to install all quality carpets.
Adequate floor preparation is important to achieve the best results. Remedial work to seal drafts and if necessary hardboard or thin ply to smooth out any undulations in floor boards should be carried out before the carpet is fitted.