PICTURE #26   CLICK FOR   FULL SIZE PICTURE	RECOGNIZING:  __ Visible at installation: _____________        Latent/Time: Depending on the amount of use LOCATION: On the subfloor, at seams or anywhere in the installation. DEFINITION/   APPEARANCE: The carpet is not properly anchored to the subfloor and is loose or has bubbles.
PREVENTION:	Make sure your installer is qualified and fully understands the need to use the right adhesive, trowel size, seam sealers, follows directions for properly allowing the carpet to acclimate to the job site and the adhesive's recommended set up time  Conduct, document, and get the owner or responsible party to sign off on moisture and pH testing of all concrete floors, prior to proceeding with the installation  Then if excessive moisture or pH appears at a later date you will not be held responsible
RECOGNIZE
TEST INSPECT	__ Pull tufts        No Manufacturing Defect    __       Provide a 3"x7" swatch of unused carpet with your inspection report for testing.    Other: Pull up carpet and look for adhesive transfer to the back Use an ultra violet light to check for a 100% transfer  Check the trowel size, measure the spacing between the lines of adhesive, and look for seam sealer on the edges and subfloor (under the seam line).  Take 35mm pictures if you feel it's necessary to prove your point.  Were moisture and pH tests performed prior to the installation? By whom? Were they documented and signed off? Conduct a moisture test in various areas. Anything more than a reading of 14% is excessive. Mold and mildew can start to grow at 19%.  The glue will become saturated with moisture and liquefy, thus preventing the carpet's ability to stay bonded to the substrate. If this is installed on a concrete substrate check to see if the glue turned to a white powder. If so, this is an alkaline breakdown that will cause a complete failure in the installation. After thoroughly scraping the adhesive from the concrete floor use a professional pH meter or pH paper to perform the proper pH testing. Readings of more than 9.0 are unacceptable  Exactly where has the bond failed? Carpet to floor? Between the primary and secondary backings? Is there seam failure? If so, did the installer seal the seams? Was the carpet properly acclimated as recommended in the CRI-104/105? How many times and how often has the carpet been cleaned? By what method? Was the carpet properly rolled? With what weight? How many times?   Probe random areas of the carpet with a turning tool or awl. Sticking the point down and then along under the backing, catch the point into the backing and determine if the backing is firmly laminated and secured. Check both trafficked and unused areas. If possible, obtain a sample of adhesive. Look for tracers under a microscope.  What is their color and shape?  Check along the walls.  Is there a good spread of adhesive?  Is there a failure of bond here? If this is a double stick installation is it: Within the cushion? Carpet to cushion? Cushion to floor? , what is the type, thickness, and density of the cushion?
REFER TO:	Picture # 26     __ Manufacturer's recommendations and guidelines        Manufacturer's installation guidelines     __    Manufacturer's care and maintenance brochure
CAUSE:	Installation  __    Specification      Maintenance       NO manufacturing defect  __    Locally Caused  __    This is a manufacturing defect   __    Within Industry Standards performing up to it's characteristics and desired   standards.        Other: Moisture in the subfloor. Flooding or high alkalinity. Poor or improper selection of adhesive, wrong size trowel, or not enough adhesive was used Over wetting during carpet cleaning.
RESOLVE
RESPONSIBILITY	__    Manufacturer     Dealer or Specifier        __ Installer  __   Consumer        Other:   1)Wrong adhesive was specified or used   2) The end user, if a documented and signed moisture test and/or pH test was taken prier to the initial installation and there is now measured evidence of excessive moisture or pH levels.
CORRECTION:	Problem can be corrected   __   Problem can not be corrected without replacing floor.
HOW TO RESOLVE	Pull up the areas of concern and properly reinstall the carpet However, it should be noted that once the installer (and, in most cases, the retailer) proceeds to install a product on an unacceptable subfloor, he takes the full responsibility for the problems that may result.  Attempts to seal seams edges after the carpet is installed are usually unsuccessful.

   

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