We hear so much about moisture barriers in carpet backings and now, DuPont’s SpillNet, which is a separate sheet of material placed between the carpet and the pad, I thought you’d be interested to know more about these things. The concept behind a moisture barrier backing is to keep aqueous based agents and substances from penetrating through the carpet, affecting both the carpet backing and the surface beneath the broadloom.

Most of the moisture barrier backings are solid vinyl type or urethane type backings. They do what they are designed to do, but some things which have been touted are not true. If water based agents can’t get through from the top of the carpet then they can’t get through from the bottom, either. This is not always a good.

If you glue a solid barrier floor to a concrete substrate and moisture beneath the concrete needs to pass through and evaporate, it can’t, and the carpet could bubble, wrinkle or lift off the substrate the same way a sheet vinyl floor would. The installation failure would be your fault.

There are several sealers which can be used on the concrete to prevent or minimize the occurrence. Parabond, in particular, showed a new product at Surfaces which will penetrate the concrete, react with the alkalinity and seal the substrate.

If you have moisture in the substrate you will have trouble with the installation if you use a product which has a non-permeable backing. DuPont’s SpillNet, because of its construction, allows moisture vapor through from beneath but it is supposed to prevent spills from penetrating into the cushion and subfloor.

These products are said to protect the subfloor and carpet cushion by keeping liquids close to the surface where they can be removed and cleaned, but you must attend to the liquid spill relatively quickly in order to get the full advantage of the system unless it is a true moisture barrier product.

The spill can be removed from the carpet with a deep, thorough cleaning if you have the right system and a qualified operator. This does not, however prevent spots, stains or resoiling. Since spilled liquids will migrate outward, especially if they cannot penetrate, there may be an enlargement of the spot. Spots and stains are not affected by a moisture barrier. If the liquid is allowed to dry, and it is sticky or stinky, a moisture barrier will not prevent the spill from attracting soil or smelling.

A sticky substance will cause soiling which, in turn, results in dark spots. A smelly substance will penetrate the primary backing or engage the fiber and cause an odor. In both cases, the contaminant will attach itself to the carpet fiber and that’s where you have to contend with the intrusion.

Remember: The moisture barrier, although it may prevent passage of a liquid based substance, does not effect the agent interacting with the carpet fiber and yarn. If the liquid is not addressed immediately, it will dry, the moisture carrying it will evaporate and the remaining residues will create a problem.

As long as the surface of carpet is a textile, regardless of the fiber, we’ll have spots and stains from spills. Moisture barrier backings will not prevent discoloration of a fiber which is susceptible to such effects. In fact, because these kinds of backings hold off penetration of the damaging substance, they may actually enhance the ability of a staining agent to cause damage by holding that substance into the base of the yarn longer, allowing it to migrate up the fiber by capillary action.

This is also true of a substance which has an odor such as urine, vomit, or other excrement; unless there is a built in deodorizer, anti-bacterial, or anti-microbial agent, there will be an odor.

The best defense for these everyday occurrences is still a good housekeeping practice, prompt attention to the spill and the phone number of a professional carpet cleaner who won’t leave residue in the carpet to attract more soil than you started with.

Moisture barrier backings do indeed work, they do not however, change the laws of nature or physics-- so don’t oversell them. As Kelly Kramer always tells you, sell honest, sell clean and sell with integrity. If you follow these practices, you won’t set yourself up for claims.

If you need help or have any questions call me- there’s no charge to ask a question or to get an answer.