Pile distortion

[Wing It]

I have a home with pile distortion on Berber carpet. The rows change from light to dark depending on which side you are on and I did the paper and pencil test. My question is, is it normal to have this throughout the house? Could it be distorted because of crushing that occurred while it was in the roll before being installed? The distortion is in parallel lines.

 

[J Scott W]

The form of pile distortion known as roll crush will be lines across the width of the carpet. On carpet from closer to the center of the roll, the lines will be closer together due to the rolls smaller diameter.

If that description matches, sounds like it could be roll crush. Should not have been installed if the lines were clearly visible prior to installation.

 

[Wing It]

I doubt they were that visible at installation. You can't hardly see them with daylight. However, they are noticeable with blinds closed and artificial lights on.

 

[Wing It]

 

[Wing It]

First two pics are of a closet from opposite sides. Third and fourth pics are from opposite views in the bonus room. Keeping sunlight out and turning on artificial light on made these distortions much more evident. At first, they called to say that I had not overlapped correctly leaving clean and dirty stripes. Luckily, I took Jeff cross's advice from an article he wrote in 2008 and had literature on me about pile distortion and roll crush.

 

[J Scott W]

If they want to file a claim about the carpet, I suggest they find an independent 3rd party inspector to exam and test the carpet and then write a report on the cause.

A good source to find inspectors - www.nicfi.org

 

[Wing It]

Thank you Scott. Their intention is to use this place as a rental and are not concerned about the lines so long as it is clean. The lines won't be as evident once furniture is moved in and sunlight is let in. I'm just glad I had an answer to their concern.

 

[encapman]

I did the paper and pencil test.

What is the paper and pencil test? Never heard of that.

 

[J Scott W]

What is the paper and pencil test? Never heard of that.

Place a sheet of paper on the carpet. Roll a pen or pencil back and forth across the paper. The paper will move in the direction of the pile lay.

This can be used to check and see if distortion, light/ dark pattern or such is the result of pile laying in different directions.

 

[encapman]

Thanks Scott. I hadn't heard that one before.