The “new” and very popular style shag carpets, comprised of a heavy cable yarn and a thinner frieze yarn pose a particular challenge to daily maintenance. First, the carpet is so thick and long that it will trap particulate soil and hold onto it. This soil can and will fall to the base of the carpet. The manufacturers’ warranties state that these carpets must be vacuumed with an upright vacuum cleaner with beater bars and brush to maintain them. However, following these instructions furnished in the warranty will inflict damage on the carpet. The tips of the cabled yarn can be blossomed by the aggressive action of the vacuum cleaner as it grabs, agitates and releases the yarn. This action can also create “cornrowing” in this and other similar heavy and thick carpets. The danger here is that when a claim is filed for the cabled yarns coming apart at the tips or the carpet cornrowing, the manufacturers’ have a tendency to deny the claim because an upright vacuum cleaner was used on it. The independent inspectors report may also state that the damage to the carpet is being caused by an upright vacuum cleaner being used. The warranty tells you what to do but doing so damages the carpet and then the claim is denied for following the warranty. What are you to do?
Common sense will tell you that using an aggressive vacuum cleaner on this type of carpet will in fact cause the tips of the cabled yarn to blossom – nothing new here. Shag carpets, since their inception, have typically been susceptible to the aggressive action of upright vacuum cleaners with a beater bar and brush, which can also instigate fuzzing. To vacuum these carpets effectively and not damage them, a straight vacuum head only should be used with a very powerful vacuum system. These carpets also require more diligent and frequent vacuuming, raking and grooming because they are so long and will trap soil, mat and distort. Just like a long haired dog versus a short haired dog. A vacuum cleaner alone will not lift the nap of these carpets. So you’re going to have to understand and resign yourself to the fact that these carpets require the additional process of manually grooming or lifting the nap – and explain this to the customer when you sell the product to avoid complaints. You can obtain a Groomer from Groom Industries, Google them for the information. Having to tell the consumer how to maintain this type of carpet might be a pain but it is necessary to avoid problems. And make sure you read the warranties on the products you sell – all of them – so that you know what they say. Often times the marketing people make statements the carpet can’t keep.
Speaking of carpet changing appearance the surface of all cut pile carpets will change when subjected to foot or rolling traffic. The denser the surface of the carpet and the more texturing and coloration it has the less this condition will show. Solid color carpets that compress and look lighter or shade, particularly in concentrated, unalterable and pivotal traffic areas, will manifest the most change. This is not a defect but a normal and natural reaction to traffic. Once this condition occurs there is nothing you can do to reverse it. And filing a claim on this type of complaint is futile because the only thing that can be said about the concern is that the carpet is performing up to the standards and characteristics to which it was designed and constructed. Vertically oriented face yarns will compress when walked on and the change in the physical positioning of the yarn will also alter the light reflectance values of the carpet changing the shade of the color. Most often this means the carpet looks flatter in appearance and lighter in shade in the traffic lanes. The more you know about the products you sell the fewer problems you’ll have. I can assure you you’re not going to get this information from the manufacturer but you will get it from us. So call or email if you have a question and attend our next LGM Carpet Seminar July 10, 11 & 12 to really be informed.
Author: Lewis G. Migliore
LGM and Associates – The Floorcovering Experts