4 Problems You Could be Facing with Your Entrance Carpet
Most offices and commercial premises have entrance carpeting--indoor, outdoor, or both. Entrance carpeting contributes to creating a professional and appealing appearance and is efficient at catching dirt and debris outside, so the floor inside remains clean. If you too have carpet flooring at your commercial premises, you would be experiencing these benefits first-hand! Over time, however, have you noticed subtle changes in the appearance of your carpeting? One problem would be pile flattening. The carpeting that was once firm and full threaded starts looking more flat, more sparse and dull. Moreover, colors fade, sometimes noticeable only on the most treaded parts of the carpet or mat.
These changes could be attributed to wear and tear, of course. After all, every product does come with a product life, and when the carpet starts looking too faded or sports tears and frayed edges, you know that it's time to change it. Sometimes, however, these defects can be visible a lot sooner than expected. The use of poor quality materials or thinner, less densely woven mats can show signs of damage earlier than is normal. If this damage happens within the product's warranty period, you can reach out to the company you've purchased from, and depending on their policies and procedures, you could get your carpet replaced. There are some broad types of pile flattening problems you would notice in your carpeting.
PILE CRUSHING OR TRAFFICKING
Pile Crushing, also known as Trafficking, is when the carpet pile 'crushes' down in areas that see the most amount of footsteps and walking, for instance, down the center walkway of a corridor. Crushing is said to occur when the face yarn fails to maintain its sturdiness and fullness and flattens out. The degree of flattening would depend on the density of the tufts of the pile, the quality of yarn, and quality of the underlay. The face yarn is an important issue in determining why your yarn is crushing. The tighter and closer the tufts in the pile, the more one tuft supports the next, and hence, the lesser and slower the flattening. Carpets with high pile density will be of better quality and, therefore, will cost more.
MATTING
Matting is when the face yarn fibers go fuzzy and get entangled, making the carpet surface lose its distinctive tufts, ridges, and demarcations. This usually occurs in areas where foot traffic moves from vinyl flooring onto the carpet. The carpet is essentially absorbing the dirt and grease as if it were a doormat! Another reason could be improper cleaning, where there is soap residue remaining on the carpet.
CORN BOWING
Sometimes carpets and rugs have clearly defined areas or rows of tufts where the face fibers seem to be 'bowing' down, with their tips stuck in the carpet pile. This is referred to as Corn Bowing. The problem occurs because of poor pile yarn density vis-à-vis the height and the thickness of the yarn. Higher pile height but less yarn density would make fibers 'bow' under traffic pressure, as the fibers do not get adequate support. Softer, more pliant yarns are particularly susceptible, as they do not have the elasticity to spring back up. This problem has nothing to do with cleaning processes or techniques, although the problem may become visible immediately after cleaning. When corn bowing is moderate, vacuuming and raking the pile yarn perpendicular to the traffic pattern helps to rectify it. These, however, are not of much help when the corn bowing is more acute.
FACTORS CONSIDERED IN FLATTENING COMPLAINTS
When looking at flattening and trafficking complaints, certain factors need to be considered.
- Is the material specification correct for the installation?
- Is the correct type of vacuum cleaner being used?
- Is the correct cleaning and maintenance procedures taking place?
- Is there a soil attracting residue in the carpet left during the manufacturing process?
- Has the underlay been underspecified?
GETTING YOUR GRIEVANCES ADDRESSED
Changes in carpet shade due to pile flattening or trafficking is not considered a complaint unless the carpet specifications are incorrect or the carpet is not right for its intended use. Even then, this complaint will have to be directed to the store or portal from where the carpet was purchased rather than to the manufacturers. It may happen that your carpet meets minimum installation standards, but you still have one of the above problems with your carpeting. If your product is under warranty, you can contact the company you've purchased from and, subject to their policies and procedures, you could get a replacement. The manufacturer will probably conduct laboratory testing to assess the problem correctly in order to honor the warranty.
AVOID CARPET PROBLEMS. BUY THE BEST.
Your best bet is to purchase a high-quality carpeting product. One of the best flooring solutions in the market for outdoor and indoor use in commercial premises is CM Viper 8950. It is perfect for medium to heavy commercial use for both indoor and outdoor entrances that face high traffic. It has a 17.69 Oz/SqZd pile material that makes it dense and sturdy enough to withstand heavy traffic of over 1 million per year. With a total height of 5/16” (~8mm), the carpet helps prevent tripping hazards at the front entrance. The looped yarn construction and random face pattern on these mats allow them to collect small debris and moisture from the bottom of boots and hide it away from plain sight until they can be properly cleaned. Tough, hardworking, and efficient, CM Viper 8950 is the perfect carpeting solution for commercial premises that see a lot of traffic.
CM Viper 8950 Indoor-Outdoor Scraper Matting
