The appearance of carpet tracking can be very disturbing. You install new carpet and within a couple of month or years the carpet has these ugly dark areas in the traffic lanes. You know that you have not been hard on the carpet, you take off your shoes, vacuum regularly and if there is a spot you remove it immediately.You have the carpet cleaned and these dark tracks are still there. This absolutely has to be a defect and you want the carpet company to do something about it.
So what is carpet tracking? Tracking is a gradual change in appearance of the pile. Tracking is commonly seen as two narrow bands like the tracks on a railway. Tracking can be seen as a wide single path and in all instances it develops in an where the traffic is repeated and often pivotal.
With tracking the pile of the carpet often takes on a darker, dirty appearance that when viewed from some directions is hardly seen or is much lighter in appearance. Tracking is usually seen in softer, cut pile carpets such as a plush pile though it is not limited to plushes. This appearance is commonly seen in areas between rooms and hallways. Often the occupants of the residents are older or tend to shuffle their feet.
Tracking is traffic lane shading a form of pile reversal. Through usage the lay of the pile begins to turn. Since more light is reflected off the sides of the pile and part of the yarn has turned a different direction you are seeing light and dark areas. While this appearance can make a carpet look worn out the carpet is not necessarily worn.
Carpet manufacturers consider tracking and shading to be a characteristic and not a defect.
There are many types of warranties on carpets some fiber warranties especially on more expensive carpets include texture retention. Since it is always possible that the texture within the trafficked area has changed to the point to where it is covered by a texture retention warranty you may still want to report your concerns to the dealer or manufacturer and request that your concerns be addressed.
The best way to avoid tracking is to purchase carpet with a denser construction, lower pile height, textured yarn. Examples would be textured Saxony, frieze, and Berber.
At Floor Central, we received the following explanation of shedding from a carpet manufacturer. This is one of the best explanations of shedding I have come across. This is suggested reading for both industry personnel and carpet consumers.
Carpet Shedding
With all the styles we make using staple yarns this explains why (to some extent) we receive so many claims for shedding. Many times these claims are given birth as the point of sale because the consumer is not aware or is not made aware of the normal shedding characteristics of staple yarn. Fortunately, our experiences with the many (many) samples that have been submitted to us for shedding has shown that the vast majority of these claims are not valid, the shedding being experienced is well within the normal range for staple, and in many cases is so slight that the very though of submitting a claim has to be questioned.
Shedding (vacuum cleaner canisters and bags filling with fuzz) is a major complaint we see. A few years ago I received the following explanation of shedding from a carpet manufacturer. This explanation is as true today as it was then.
Shedding occurs when sheared fiber that has not been removed during the vacuuming process (after shearing) work their way out of the now installed carpet by traffic and vacuuming. We also see shedding as a result of individual staple fibers that have been spun together, when an infinitesimal amount of fiber that was not captured in the latex yarn bundle slip from the twist yarn. Consider this: If you have a 2-ply staple yarn constructed carpet you could have as many as 300 individual filaments of yarn in a single tuft! If only one (1) filament slipped from each tuft as a result of normal shedding, imagine the amount of shedding that could occur in a typical 12′ x 20′ room! Perhaps you can better understand this if you consider, for example, that a typical 1/10 gauge cut-pile carpet has approximately 103,680 tufts in one square yard of carpet!
Shedding with carpets of staple yarn construction poses no danger of excessive fiber loss, it is not a defect, and it will stop in time! The time required for shedding to stop will be based on how often the carpet is vacuumed, how thoroughly the carpet is vacuumed, and how effective the vacuum model is (models with roller brushes and adjustable pile height settings work best), and how heavy the carpet’s pile is (the heavier the style the longer it will take to remove those fibers that will eventually shed. Dealers and consumers should be told that shedding may last up to a year! They should also understand that because shed fiber that has been captured by vacuuming has been “fluffed” in the process, the amount of fiber contained in the vacuum bag often appears to be significantly greater in amount then what was actually been removed. And the common sense thing to do when this is observed is to clean (or exchange) the vacuum bag to prevent overloading the vacuum cleaner.
This information should equip you to better respond to clams for shedding, and help dealers and consumers understand that this is a normal condition and its occurrence does not indicate that a carpet is defective.
Often a dealer will receive a call from a consumer that they sold carpet to less than a year or two ago. The caller is terribly upset because the expensive new carpet is changing from its light color to a dark color along the walls at the edge of the steps on the stairs and under some of the doors. The dealer goes out and looks at the carpet and sure enough it is getting dark around the perimeter of the room. Usually there is what looks like dark bands along some walls. Sometimes there will also be what appears as claw marks, small round dark circular areas and some larger dark circular areas. Thinking that something indeed is wrong with the carpet they will often contact a company like The Weinheimer Group certified floor covering inspectors.
At the job-site the inspector lifts the edge of the carpet along a darkened area. The edge he is lifting is tucked between the tackless strip and the wall so it is protected from exposure. When the carpet is up he observes that its edge has become anywhere from light gray to black. While the carpet is up the inspector also notes that along the dark edge either the subfloor or wall or both have gaps that allow air to pass through.
The inspector moves on to the stairs where the carpet is turning dark along the edges. Lifting the carpet at a darkened edge he observes a gap between the step and the wall.
Checking the interior doors of a room it is noted that under some of them the carpet is very dark. When the door is opened the dark area is seen as almost a perfect band.
The inspector moves on to the window areas and observes that the carpet has become dark under the floor length draperies and the dark areas oddly enough are in the same shape as the pleats. In another room the inspector notices that the carpet has turned dark under the vertical blinds that go almost directly to the floor and in this area the marks are in the shape of the blind slats.
After making the above observations, the inspector determines that what we are dealing with is filtration soiling.
What is filtration soiling?
Filtration soiling occurs when the carpet performing as a filter, absorbs oily atmospheric pollutants out of the air. Carpet fiber makes a great filter and this is an advantage for holding pollutants that can be vacuumed out but unfortunately the oily type soil holds on to the carpet fiber like a magnet.
Why does filtration soiling occur?
The air of most building’s have many atmospheric pollutants, much of these contaminants are composed of carbon and other non-soluble materials, such as smoke, cooking oils, gas fumes and dust. Some of the pollutants are created within the structure and others come from outside sources such as industry, vehicles, machinery, and natural sources. These contaminants flow over, under and through the carpet. They come up through open areas between the floor and the cell plate, under the baseboards or at the space between edge of the stairs and the wall. Contaminants in the air also pass under the draperies and doors and down walls, drapes, etc. Carpet being the great filter that it is, absorbs these oily soil contaminants and thus the fibers become dark, just as the filter in a furnace becomes dark over time if it is not regularly cleaned or replaced.
Why are small, dark round or claw -like areas sometimes seen on the carpet?
When air flows under the carpet through cracks in a concrete floor or openings in the wood floor. It escapes by passing up through the back of the carpet at the small holes that develop during installation from the sharp pins on the power stretcher or knee kicker head. These holes are not due to installation error but a necessary result of stretching the carpet. As the contaminants pass through these holes this results in the round dark spots, or sometimes claw-like areas on the surface of the pile near the perimeter of the room.
Why does filtration soiling affect light colored carpet?
In actuality it affects any color of carpet. Since filtration soil is dark it is easiest to see on a light colored carpet.
What type of structures is affected?
Filtration soiling can occur in almost any type of structure. Some of the more common occurrences are in rooms without return air vents where the air and its contaminants must escape someplace and it is often under a door. Frequent examples of these are:
- Rooms that have a HVAC supply vent but no return.
- Rooms with electric wall or ceiling heat.
- Rooms heated with wood or pellet stoves.
The well-sealed house or other structure is an example we have seen more and more of over the past several years. This increase has come about with the government mandated increased requirements as it pertains to insulation. In these well-sealed structures, the return air must come from somewhere, or a vacuum is formed by the suction of the return air resulting in the filtration of the contaminants.
Is filtration soiling a construction-related problem?
Filtration soiling does not occur with every structure. While the type of structure may play a key roll as to where it is going to occur, it would not be fair to state that it is strictly a construction-related problem. Filtration soiling is a natural condition that occurs when return air is restricted by effective insulation and an ineffective return air supply.
How do you remove filtration soil?
Filtration soil is difficult to remove and if it is very dark, the most you can generally hope for is an improvement in appearance. When dealing with this dark, oily discoloration’s you are challenged with a blend of many pollutants, of varying particle sizes.
Cleaning of filtration marks is not a one step process. The cleaning will require a solvent to attack the oily substance, detergent to attack soil, a lot of agitation, plenty of dwell time for the chemicals to work and a thorough very-hot water extraction. This type of cleaning is not done standing up with a cleaning wand. You will be working face to face with the carpet if you expect any type of cleaning results.
- First vacuum the area thoroughly with a crevice tool or hose cuff to remove the dry soil. The more thorough the vacuuming now the better your later results will be.
- After vacuuming, mix a high-pH pre-spray containing a built-in solvent as part of the ingredient and spray the dark area. (The pre-spray may work better if it is hot.)
- When you apply the pre-spray, do not over-wet, as you only want to wet about the top one-third of the yarn.
- Once you have sprayed the area use a tamping brush (type of spotting brush) to tamp in the solvents. The tamping will move the pre-spray further down the tuft length without over-wetting the fiber shaft along with adding needed agitation to help break the soil loose. The job of the solvent in the pre-spray is to dissolve and oxidizes the oily soil that it encapsulates.
- With carpet shampoo, scrub the area and wait about twenty minutes (dwell time) before proceeding.
- Thoroughly extract the area with very hot water. Extract thoroughly to reduce the amount of wicking (soil moving back to the surface as wet seeks dry). After all of this the area will likely still be discolored but look much better.
How do I prevent filtration soiling?
Cleaning the filtration soiling will help only temporarily if something is not done to prevent it from happening again. An alternate source of fresh air for the return air must be
Found. While some experts claim that one way to prevent or reduce filtration soiling is to remove part of the insulation or weather stripping, I do not consider this a practical solution. Another way to prevent or reduce filtration soiling is to leave a window cracked so that return air will be drawn through the window instead of from under the base plate or through the wall. Since every structure is different, it is recommended that a heating and air-conditioning expert be contacted for their recommendation.
For further information regarding filtration soil or other floor-covering problem, please feel free to contact either Terry or Kevin Weinheimer at “The Weinheimer Group LLC“.
The building may be located in the country on a quiet road or near a major highway or manufacturing facility. You may have a fully landscaped situation with grass and walks or you may have dirt and gravel around the structure. You may be in an area that is routinely exposed to rain and mud. Maybe you’re on the beach or in the dessert and sand is a consideration. Some offices, motels, and retail stores are exposed to tracking from asphalt parking lots. Maybe you have a restaurant that operates in part of the building, or a garage where your teenagers work on cars. You will need to carefully think about the specific composition of soil so that the correct selection can be made. The type and color of soil will vary by geographic location running the gamut of light to dark and somewhere in-between. Selecting a floor covering that has is similar in tone to the soil will tend to hide it.
Not only should it be able to conceal soil it is advisable for it to be a product that can be easily cleaned and cared for. Concealed soil that is not removed will damage any floor-covering product. You need to understand that stain and soil resistance on carpet helps to repel spills and dirt but it does not eliminate maintenance. Advertising for carpet may lead one to believe that a carpet that is treated with a stain and soil resisting product will not get dirty, you must understand that this product will not keep a carpet clean but allows for easier clean-up of common household spills. Stain and soil resist products are a good selection for any carpeted room in the house and will assist with maintenance in high traffic areas such as hallways, stairs or any other room where activity is high and food or beverage is consumed. Some advertising for laminated wood, sheet vinyl and other flooring products also tend to give the impression that the floor is indestructible. Everything can be destroyed and often it takes little effort so you really need to understand what you are buying and where you are going to use it.
In the next article Terry Weinheimer will discuss the importance of installation.
In this series of articles floor covering expert Terry Weinheimer of the Weinheimer Group LLC will discuss the selection of carpet, resilient, laminate, hardwood and other floor covering materials.
Next to a house or an automobile, floor covering is one of the largest purchases that many homeowners will ever make. Like an automobile or residence floor covering can be a purchase of joy or one of pain. A floor covering that is properly specified for the location, in which it is to be used, will add to the beauty of its environment. A properly selected floor covering will also add value, comfort and pleasure to any home or business. At the same time, a floor covering that is selected with little or no thought as to its environment is likely to result in a major disappointment.
Floor covering is both an important and a valuable element of a property design. Floor covering can offer both the desired aesthetics and required performance qualities, when care is taken in its selection. With the huge variety of fibers, styles and colors available an individual can find a product in the correct price range that will provide years of enjoyment and function.
Should an improperly selected floor covering be it sheet vinyl, laminated wood, carpet, hardwood or any other product fail, the unhappy consumer often places blame on the dealer they purchased it from. In turn, the dealer will likely blame the problem on the floor-covering manufacturer. If the floor covering is carpet, the carpet manufacturer might blame the problem on the fiber manufacturer who in turn places the blame back on the retailer, consumer or another individual or inanity. This can be one big viscous circle with everyone being blamed and no one taking responsibility.
As a consumer you should expect the sales representative to educate you and steer you in the right direction instead of going along with you to make the easy sale. Unfortunately many companies fail to educate their sales representatives so that they understand how products differ and therefore a consumer must be prepared when making a purchase.
The author sees it as a responsibility of those marketing a floor covering product to understand color, construction, performance and installation, and to pass this information on to the end user. The consumer needs to understand that by spending just a little more money, (often only a few extra dollars more a month) on the purchase, it will save them many dollars and a lot of grief over the life of the carpet. Unfortunately, for a consumer the word is caveat emptor (buyer beware).
The author has spent over twenty-five years as a floor covering consultant and inspector. In this roll he has analyzed thousands of installations to determine what has caused the products premature failure or loss in appearance. Regularly it is found that the performance exhibited by a product is consistent with the characteristics of its construction. What this usually means is that the product has failed as it was not properly specified or selected for the environment in which it was to be used. Often the cause of the failure is a result of the floor covering being improperly cared for due to lack of knowledge or neglect. Improper selection and care are avoidable situations that may require a little study on the part of the end-user.
Selecting the correct floor covering for your installation needs to be done with a lot of thought and a little planning so that you will experience the satisfying performance and enjoyment that you deserve. As you may have experienced with a past purchase, a floor covering that is absolutely perfect for one residence or even a single room may be a disaster in another. With this in mind you should carefully decide whether you want the same product and color throughout or a different floor covering treatment in different rooms or areas of the installation. Unfortunately many buyers and sellers of floor products only look at the product with two elements in mind aesthetics and price. Aesthetics includes such things as color, style, pattern, texture, luster, and feel. Price is often based upon how cheaply can we buy it?
In the next article we will discuss aesthetics and price.
Floor Covering 101: Aesthetics and Price
Aesthetics and price while being two of the more important elements are but part of the selection process. In addition to aesthetics a properly selected product will be chosen for its appearance retention characteristics which includes its ability to withstand wear and its soil-hiding ability. With a hard floor you will look at addition characteristics such as its resistance to moisture, scratches and gouges. With a carpet you are interested in additional factors such as it resistance to matting and crushing.
To get the correct product you must understand the environment in which it is to be installed, the look you would like to achieve, how much you are willing to spend, the care it will receive and how long you expect it to last. Not all floor covering products or carpet fibers and constructions have the same performance characteristics so you will need to understand these when making your selections for the various rooms in you’re home.
Another major problem many end-users face in the selection of floor covering is the tendency to be able to select it on an unemotional basis. It is common for many consumers to select a product on emotion because it is fashionable, makes them feel good and they believe it to be at a price that will work within the budget. “And besides, they saw it advertised on television and it looked like it never got dirty and it also has a ten year warranty”.
In the next article Terry Weinheimer will discuss soil-hiding considerations
The pet dog or cat can become a very important part of a family. Many of us talk to them like they were our best friends. You regularly hear some one calling a dog by saying come to mommy or come to daddy. The loss of a pet is like loosing a member of the family.
On the downside, the best of pets can destroy a carpet. They get locked up in a room and have to relieve themselves and unable to open the door and go outside they do it on the carpet. Perhaps you have a new puppy! Sometimes a pet is getting old and starts to loose bladder control. Sometimes they just get sick.
In 1998 Solutia, introduced Wear-Dated Pet-Agree. While this product won’t stop the accidents it is a great help in cleaning them up. In 2008 Pet-Agree is still offering the product on selected carpets. Solutia’s Wear-Dated Pet-Agree has a protective backing which traps liquids to prevent nasty odors. The liquids are trapped on the surface where the pet owner can thoroughly clean up the accident. Since it is not soaking through the backing you no longer have the problem of the spot wicking back up from the backing. Liquid is not getting through to the subfloor therefore helps to eliminate permanent odors from urine getting into the floor.
Carpet casters are designed to roll easily on a softer surface without wearing out the carpet. Casters for harder surfaces such as hardwood and laminate are designed to roll easily without scratching or marring the floors finish.
When you purchase an office style chair or captains style chair with casters for the desk or table you want it to glide easily. What you need to keep in mind is that there is a difference between the type of caster you will use on a finished hard floor such as hardwood and laminate or a softer floor such as carpet.
What are these differences between the casters?
Harder casters and twin wheel nylon casters that slide instead of roll are fine on carpet but will mar harder surfaces. For hardwood, laminate, ceramic tile and other hard floor surfaces select a soft rubber or soft polyurethane caster that rolls and swivels easily.
What about color?
A gray colored instead of black soft rubber is much less likely to leave marks on hard surface floor.
Glides instead of casters:
For chairs and table legs without casters remove those hard plastic glides and replace them with felt pads.
A touchup tip for already marred floors:
If your hardwood or laminate is already scratched from the wrong glides or casters you may be able to blend the marks. Select a crayon that is close in color to the floors finish and rub into the scratch. Using a hairdryer heat the crayon to set and then buff with a soft cloth.
