This is the biggest problem in the industry encompassing all floor covering materials. Just because someone tells you something or you “flower up” the product to make a sale doesn’t change what the flooring is actually capable of. I want to share with you some specific situations that will help you.
Here’s a situation from a dealer who states, “We installed a high quality nylon loop pile carpet in the corridors of a 6 story condo project a year and a half ago. The maintenance manager called us to see if there is any way to remove a bicycle skid mark that one of the tenant’s children made when he was riding his bike in the hall. They had the carpet cleaned with hot water extraction but that did not help. Any suggestions? Certainly; make the kids ride their bikes outside. About the carpet, the heat generated from the friction of the rubber tire sliding acrossed the carpet actually melted the nylon. Remember, all synthetic carpets are a thermoplastic making them susceptible to high heat; friction from a rubber bicycle tire skidding on the carpet qualifies as high heat and an extraordinary circumstance. This is not an intended use for a textile floor covering material and one should understand that the carpet was damaged not soiled. The only way to repair this damage is to replace that section of the carpet. This falls under the Not Understanding Carpet by the end user. This has nothing to do with the dealer. Riding bikes on carpet is not something you should have to include in the explanation or qualification of the product at the point of sale.
Wood flooring changes with environmental conditions. This is a situation we’re getting more calls on; wood flooring cupping, curling, cracking, doming and ends raising as a result of the ambient conditions in the facility not being kept at a controlled temperature and humidity. As our wood expert says, wood floors like to be comfortable too. If the temperature for human beings is comfortable then that should work for the wood floor as well. If it gets hot and humid or cold and dry the floor and the occupants are going to react. This is a very simple way to explain to people how they should keep their homes or businesses HVAC system set so they don’t experience problems with the wood floor. This also goes for vinyl flooring as well which can also be affected by swings in temperature and humidity especially if the HVAC system is shut down for extended periods of time. You can add carpet to the mix as swings in temperature and humidity can cause carpet to buckle and wrinkle.
The use of polyester is growing like a weed because it is a good value in this economy and has some very positive inherent performance characteristics. It is inherently stain resistant and color fast which is increased if the fiber is solution dyed. Polyester does like oily type soil and if processed with integrity it can have good resiliency. This isn’t the old generation polyester so it will perform better IF and that’s the operative word; IF. If it’s properly processed, twisted and heat set and put into a yarn configuration that gives it increased performance this can be a good product. Add to that the use of Continuous Filament as opposed to spun yarn and you can have a winner. When you start skimping on the process is when problems occur. If the product is oversold, which you may have a tendency to do because you believe everything you hear, then you might get yourself nipped. So be realistic, understand the product and don’t oversell it. A good rule of them is the less it costs you the less it will perform. This is not to be confused with Sorona or Triexta which really is the best of both nylon and polyester.
Google with caution. We’re getting more calls from consumers who find information on the internet and are overwhelmed with the volume of it. There’s a lot of mis-information on line so you’d better really know what you’re talking about or consumers will think you’re not telling them the truth. On the other hand they may come in with information that is pure folly in some respects. Too much really is too much sometime.
Author: Lewis G. Migliore
LGM and Associates – The Floorcovering Experts