Water Marking & Pooling in Carpet--Ever here of such a thing?

I would imagine un uneven floor, or one which flexes causing the carpet to creep is a likely explanation...or maybe it's the carpet aliens from the planet 'deep pile' ?

Del

Pooling is an effect of how the pile lays and how light is reflected off of it. It is usually cause buy an object sitting on the carpet for a lengthy time causing the pile in that location to lay in a different direction then the pile around it. If your carpet has circular patterns in it even after replacing it new then likely there is some problem with the floor. What type of floor is the carpet place on?

Apparently it is a "thing" that is common and carpet manufacturers have inspectors investigate it for faulty manufacturing and often it is a condition that remains even if the carpet is replaced.--I will try to get some links, soon.

I don't have it--Just heard about it from a carpet guy.

I believe that it is a reflectance issue, with the LAY of the fibers (fibres?-Hi del) actingas a kind of quasi polarizer.

Heres some Industry definitions:

"In the Carpet and Rug Institute's Carpet Claims Manual, shading is defined as an "apparent color difference between areas of the same carpet caused by ... random difference[s] in pile lay direction. It is a characteristic of all cut-pile carpet and ... is not a manufacturing defect. The sides of fibers reflect more light and appear brighter and lighter than the ends, which absorb more light and appear to be duller and darker in color."

The Carpet Claims Manual also states, "Pile crushing, pile shading, watermarking, and soiling are not manufacturing defects and will not be considered as a basis for claims."

The Carpet Manufacturers Association of the West's Statement of Obligations and Responsibilities of Carpet Manufacturers and Purchasers of Carpet and Carpet Performance and Claim Guidelines states, "Highlighting and shading are differences in light reflection between surface areas and are not defects." This document also states, "Watermarking or pooling is a color change effect which arises from reversal or bending of the carpet pile fibers so that light is either absorbed or reflected from the pile. This is a common condition and is not related to carpet construction or fiber type and is not the basis for a claim."

The Carpet and Rug Institute's bulletin Pile Reversal ("Shading"; "Water Marking") states that "a thorough search of available literature has not revealed any reason as to why carpet, after it has been installed, may or may not develop pile reversal. The many theories have been studied, tested, and evaluated by one or more sources. It has been concluded that the theories were not valid.... At the present time, the only conclusion which can be drawn is that pile reversal may develop on the surface of some carpet after it is installed, and that pile reversal is not due to the materials which are used to produce the carpet, the manufacturing process, or any combination of these factors."

Good web page with pictures:

http://www.carpetinspector.com/members/RayMorgan.htm

milo

Thanks MILO.

There are claims that there are environmental conditions that are present and remain even if the carpet is replaced--I was wondering what this body(CR4) thinks--When I was told about it and read that the only successful solution was to change the type of flooring or live with it, that seemed a bit strange and it may be worth a look.

www.carpet-rug.org/technical_bulletins/0003_Pile_Reversal_Watermarking_Shading.pdf

It's a bit difficult for me to accept that the type of flooring is responsible - if it were, why would the same effect not be present across the entire surface, thus making it all the same, and not noticeably different? There could be some inconsistency in that flooring that would cause it, but that should be observable by itself.

The interesting thing is that it is a problem only on cut pile carpets. Those with the loops intact don't exhibit this.

milo

So perhaps it is a function of the twist of the yarn and how it is inserted into the backing before it is cut? Would make more sense than what kind of substrate it sits on...

Very small Aliens. ie Carpet circles instead of Crop Circles