We just completed the LGM Carpet Seminar today and you should have been there. There were several new issues that would have helped you improve your business by exposing you to concerns for various types of products performance and also new business opportunities.
One of the concerns we addressed, and understand this is a carpet education seminar not a claims seminar, the new “California Shag” style carpets. These are the ones constructed of the very heavy and thick cable yarn and thin Frieze yarn. This product is becoming increasingly more popular and it is also an expensive product. For this reason you’ll be seeing and selling a lot more of it. One of the things we’ve found with this type of carpet is that it CANNOT be vacuumed with an upright vacuum cleaner with a beater bar and brush; using this type of machine, regardless of the type of vacuum cleaner and the manufacturer of it, will fray the surface of the carpet and change its appearance. So how then do you vacuum this type of carpet and what do you use? To prevent damage you have to use a vacuum that does not have a beater bar or brush or one that the beater bar and brush can be disconnected or turned off. You may have to use a vacuum cleaner that has a great deal of suction with a floor tool or flat carpet tool. A central vac may do the job or you should refer to the Carpet and Rug Institutes web site, www.carpet-rug.org to find an approved list of tested vacuum cleaners. If a particular vacuum cleaner is not on the list it’s for a reason. I may have talked about vacuum cleaners in a previous column but this column is not about vacuum cleaners it’s about keeping you out of trouble and avoiding a problem you can prevent.
Another point of interest brought to the attendees’ attention was the explosive double digit growth of the synthetic turf or grass business. States likeNevadaandArizonaare now granting tax credits for consumers who put down synthetic turf instead of real grass because it does not require water. This may be the case inGeorgiaand other states as well since the scarcity of water is becoming a real issue and the demand for an artificial substitute has to be found. Synthetic turf is always green, never requires water, can be had in a variety of styles and shades of green, can be filled with a number of materials to change the feel, does not require mowing which saves gas, need not be maintained by a lawn service or landscaper and allows more time for a homeowner or property manager to spend on other things.
Speaking of water another subject covered was the increasing amount of solution dyed nylon and polyester being used in carpet. Never let it be said that the carpet industry is not run by ingenious people. Since water is a huge component in the manufacture of carpet and most of the carpet is made in two states that have suffered shortages of water –GeorgiaandCalifornia– making and coloring fiber that does not require water is becoming more popular. The benefits derived are a sharp cut in water use, fibers in carpet that are much more colorfast and stain resistant inherently, a reduction in the steps necessary to color carpet and produce fiber, these steps save manufacturers money by lowering processing costs and by conserving energy consumption while at the same time giving you better inherent characteristics in carpet. This is also one of the reasons why t here is less staple fiber being used.
Another matter discussed was relative to installation and moisture vapor emission and its negative effects on floor covering installation. One major point mentioned was that no matter how old the concrete substrate, installation of a new flooring material, particularly one that is non- permeable, can be compromised and fail from moisture you didn’t think was there. This is a huge issue that can result in a massive and painfully costly claim and you should beg, borrow or steal to learn about it at our Concrete and Moisture Seminar on February 20, 21 and 22. Yes it’s a plug but one that may someday help save your business from a six figure claim.
Author: Lewis G. Migliore
LGM and Associates – The Floorcovering Experts