Article Number : 2459 |
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| Date | 9/17/2007 1:49:58 PM |
| Written By | LGM & Associates Technical Flooring Services |
| View this article at: | http://www.floorbiz.com/BizResources/NPViewArticle.asp?ArticleID=2459 |
| Abstract | Recently, a retailer asked what happened to a visible seam a consumer complained about which was repaired by the installer. The repair consisted of the installer steaming the area and, we believe, using a carpet tractor to work the carpet... |
| Article | Recently, a retailer asked what happened to a visible seam a consumer complained about which was repaired by the installer. The repair consisted of the installer steaming the area and, we believe, using a carpet tractor to work the carpet. The broadloom was a cut-loop, solid color beige which turned darker at the seam, but only to the edges of the tape. Prior to the service, only half the seam was visible. After servicing, the entire seam looks bad. There are several reasons why the seam looks as bad as it does. First, the heat from the steamer, if concentrated for a long time, could have made the primary and secondary backing pliable enough to conform to the stiffer, less pliable hardened seaming tape. If this happens, the seaming tape will telegraph through the carpet and become visible. Both the primary and secondary backing in this carpet are polypropylene, which is not responsive to the moisture in the steam, but is responsive to heat. If a good steamer was used, enough heat can be applied to soften the backing. This is why a steamer is great for relaxing furniture indentations since it heats and softens the backing, as well as lofting and lifting the yarn. The second thing which could have happened is the steaming may have loosened and mobilized some of the dye in the carpet. This is common when carpet is installed and the mechanic drags a metal tool box tray over the product. The steam and heat, both of which are used to set the dye, can also move the dye or make it unstable, and alter its shade. Once this is done, nothing will get the carpet back to its original shade. If the steaming was done incorrectly, dye could have been affected and the color changed. This would have resulted in the carpet looking different at the seam. The third explanation is the carpet itself may have been altered by the use of a stiff tool or carpet tractor during the steaming process. In an effort to lift the carpet or move the yarn around to close up a gap at the seam, the installer could have been overly aggressive with the tractor and distorted the yarn. Two things happen when this occurs. The carpet texture will look different because the yarn has been blossomed at the tip or the ply loosened. Since the physical condition of the yarn has changed, it will not look the same as the surrounding yarn, making the carpet look different because the yarn has actually been reconfigured. By altering the physical structure or characteristics of the yarn, you also change the way it reflects light. This is the other problem which occurs when you aggressively abrade the yarn. Since it's no longer tightly twisted or defined at the tip, it will defuse or absorb light instead of reflecting it. This will make the carpet color look darker. This condition is even more prevalent in darker light conditions, such as night or dusk. Another example of this is when someone tries to clean a spot out of the carpet. It looks darker where they rubbed it, despite removal of the spot. The result is the same, they have changed the light reflectance characteristics of the yarn and it will look darker. This is the fault of whoever rubbed the carpet, not a defect. So how would you fix the carpet with the visible seam after all this service? Only one of these is semi-easy: telegraphing tape. It may be possible to open up the seam, heat the tape off, re-seam with a wider tape with a lower profile and relax the carpet backing. The seam could also be sewn or glued to the pad, which is a unique technique for fixing/peaking. If the problem is one of altered dyestuffs or texture, the carpet cannot be fixed. Most consumers will not accept an explanation of what might have happened as a resolution to the problem. She'll probably want the carpet replaced and you'll have to eat the cost if your guy caused the problem. If you've got to steam a seam, just apply heat from the steamer and don't let it "spit" while you're using it (that is pop out water which accumulates in the hose and spits from the head). Drain the hose backwards if this happens. And don't be afraid of the steamer, it's a very useful and effective tool if you know how to use it. Take your time, steam, fluff and leave the carpet alone. The color will change where you use the steamer because you have bloated, lofted and heated the yarn up. As soon as the carpet cools, the color will return to normal, so don't be alarmed. |