Most of the major carpet floor-covering manufacturers in North America produce a quality product that can provide years of good service. However, that does not mean they are free of problems. And when there are problems, such as excessive wear—or what you interpret to be excessive wear—the first thing facility managers and facility service providers will likely do is see if the problem is covered in the carpet’s warranty.
Carpet Warranty Terminology
Reading carpet warranties can be difficult, and many managers will likely be surprised at what they find. As an example, the first issue to arise may be in how the carpet manufacturer defines the term “wear.” The way the manufacturer describes wear on a carpet and how a property manager or service provider defines it may be totally different.
For instance, a property manager may refer to the matting or crushing of the carpet in a hallway as an example of carpet wear. However, according to the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI), the carpet warranty likely defines wear “as the loss of pile weight or pile fiber (usually 10 percent).” Actual loss of carpet pile fiber is rare, so while the carpet may look matted down, the manufacturer is not responsible for this condition.
There are some other terms found in most carpet warranties that property managers should know. Some of these may be more specific to certain types of carpets and carpet fibers than others. Nonetheless, the astute property manager and facility service providers should be aware of these terms. Among them are the following:
- Texture Retention or Appearance Retention Warranty: This is a very important protection and all purchasers should look for or ask about it. This means that for a specified amount of time after the original purchase, the carpet should keep its texture in the areas of ordinary foot traffic. Texture of appearance retention refers to the ability of the carpet fibers to retain their visible shapes, and this is measured by using an international standardized rating scale ranging from 5.0 (new or no change) to 1.0 (severe change). Abnormal loss of texture retention is typically defined as a rating of less than 2.5. The longer the texture warranty, the more confidence the manufacturer has in their product and the more likely it will perform well in an office-type environment.
- Stain and Soil Warranty: Before discussing this warranty, it is important that we understand the meaning of the terms “staining” and “soiling” in the carpet manufacturing and cleaning industry. A stain is something that actually changes the color of the carpet. A spot, on the other hand, is residue that has collected on carpet fibers. Many types of carpet are manufactured with stain and soil protection. This type of warranty covers against stains/spots that appear and cannot be removed using professional spotting procedures. If this is the case and the carpet does have this warranty, the manufacturer may replace the carpet in the problem area. However, there may be a list of exclusions that are not covered under the warranty. Check if your carpet selection has a no exclusions warranty or if it does have exclusions.
- Fade Resistance Warranty: Some carpets and rugs may fade over time due to excessive sunlight or pollutants in the air that impact the dyes used on carpet fibers. If the carpet selected has a fade resistance clause, this means it should retain its color under most normal conditions.
Cleaning and Warranties
Some facility managers or service providers may be unaware that many leading carpet manufacturers now require their carpets to be cleaned in a certain way. They also may have requirements on who cleans their carpets in order to maintain their warranty. For instance, bonnet cleaning, which is similar to shampooing and quite common in commercial facilities because it offers a quick clean in hallways or problem areas, can damage carpet fibers. The carpet manufacturer’s warranty may not protect you if the carpet has been cleaned using the bonnet method.
Many carpet covering manufacturers require carpets to be cleaned using carpet extractors with built-in heating systems. Further, some manufacturers now require the technicians cleaning the carpet to be Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) certified. These technicians have completed a number of training programs designed to teach them best practices when it comes to cleaning and caring for carpet.
This article covers some of the key items to look for in a carpet warranty. However, the big takeaway is to be sure to review carpet warranties before making a selection. When reading the warranty, if something is unclear, ask the retailer. Carpet is an expensive investment. By reading the warranty, you can make this an investment that performs and lasts for years to come.
Sara Thurston is with Nilfsk-Advance, manufactures of U.S. Products portable extractors. She can be reached through the company website at www.usproducts.com
