News for Your Carpet

Jul
01
2015

Do You Have Wrinkles?

Occasionally, we get calls from clients who have wrinkles or ripples in their carpet. Sometimes it is in a fairly new carpet that has had little traffic. Other times it is an older carpet that developed ripples over time. So what causes these unsightly conditions, and can they be fixed? WRINKLES are usually seen in new carpet immediately after installationand are localized to one end of the carpet. Carpet wrinkles are areas where the carpet has been folded or crushed during storage. It is best if this condition is identified before the carpet is installed. If possible the wrinkled portion of the carpet roll should not be used.

The carpet retailer or installer may tell you to wait and the wrinkles will relax over time. However, this is not always the case. Wrinkles not only affect the surface yarns, they go all the way through the carpet backings and may be permanent. Steaming and grooming the carpet can improve this condition, but results will vary based on the type of carpet yarn, backing, and the severity of the wrinkles. RIPPLES are small waves that usually appear from few months to a year or more after the carpet is installed. The most common reason that carpet develops ripples is installer error. Often an installer will save time by using a kneekicker rather than a power-stretcher. This results in inadequate stretch and the potential for ripples to develop as the carpet relaxes.

Another reason for ripples is carpet that was not properly acclimated to the structure prior to installation, especially if the carpet was installed in cooler weather. A carpet needs to acclimate to normal room temperature and humidity for at least 48 hours before installation. It is difficult to stretch cold carpet, so as the carpet warms and absorbs atmospheric moisture, it will relax.

Occasionally, carpet will develop ripples immediately after cleaning. The cause is moisture absorption into the adhesive layer between the primary and secondary backings of the carpet. Even though the ripples appear after cleaning, the root cause is improper stretch of the carpet during installation. Once the carpet dries completely and acclimates to the normal temperature and humidity of the home, the carpet will lie flat. This can take up to 48 hours. In rare cases, the ripples may persist.

The only way to fix rippled carpet is to stretch the carpet again. Re-stretching requires training and patience. Often it is more difficult to re-stretch a carpet than it is to stretch it right the first time. If ripples are ignored for too long, the carpet will develop buckles.

BUCKLES are large ripples that form peaks and or wrinkles through the face yarns and carpet backing. Even if the carpet is re-stretched, the damage from buckles may still be apparent. Steaming the carpet and grooming the pile yarns may help to minimize the appearance of the damage.  Not all wrinkles are quite this cute!

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What Others Say

Ernie did a real good job. My Tile looks real good. I had forgot how it was supposed to look.

Ellen Sassaman - Lady Lake, FL

Fabulous, top notch service with a smile! Goes the extra mile.

Karen Hamilton, The Villages

We are in possession of a Chinese needlepoint done on silk that was given to my husband's parents in l938 by husband's father's brother, Uncle Richard, who was a missionary priest with the Passionist Fathers. He served in China from 1935 until he became a prisoner when China fell to communism and was imprisoned for seven years before his release. Over the years, this needlepoint (16" w x 48" long and framed) suffered what appeared to be rather severe water damage running about 15 inches from the top down. This piece had been made especially for Uncle Richard and was something that my husband has loved since he was a small boy. We contacted Vans Carpet Cleaning and they made an appointment to stop just to look at it. With no promise...Ernie took it with him and promised there would be no charge if it could not be cleaned. WELL....Ernie just brought it back to us and it looks WONDERFUL!!! I cried...my husband was speechless!! Ernie tried very hard as he knew the story. I asked him how long it took and he told us three hours with Q-tips!!! The cost $149.99 plus $50.00 to preserve it to prevent any future damage. We would have paid so much more!! And we smile every day as we look at it proudly hanging!! THANK YOU VANS CARPET CLEANING!!!

Marilyn and John White

Recently had this company come in to remove some type of coating the original contractor had put on our tile. It was coming off leaving a terrible look on the floor. Vans came in, diagnosed the problem, determined the correct solution to remove the coating and did a thoroughly professional job.
Would highly recommend them. Service was excellent, price reasonable and staff was very courteous, timely and friendly.

Anonymous

We have used Van’s Carpet Cleaning service for both wall-to-wall carpet and area rugs. Both times they have given great results accompanied by great personal service. They treat your carpet as if it was their own. You can’t go wrong with Van’s Carpet Cleaning.

Bill F