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 Mobile ViewBUILDING INTERIORS ACOUSTICAL SEALANT CHOICES AGE of a BUILDING - how to determine AGE of PLUMBING MATERIALS & FIXTURES AGE of AIR CONDITIONERS & HEAT PUMPS AGE of HEATERS, BOILERS, FURNACES AGE of WATER HEATERS ACOUSTICAL SEALANT CHOICES AIR BYPASS LEAKS AIR CLEANER PURIFIER TYPES AIR FILTERS for HVAC SYSTEMS AIR LEAK DETECTION TOOLS AIR LEAK MINIMIZATION AIR LEAK SEALING PROCEDURE AIR SEALING STRATEGIES ANIMAL ALLERGENS ANIMAL ENTRY POINTS in buildings ANIMAL ODORS IN buildings APPLIANCE EFFICIENCY RATINGS ARCHITECTURE & BUILDING COMPONENT ID ASBESTOS IDENTIFICATION IN buildings ATTIC LEAKS, CONDENSATION & MOLD ATTIC VENTILATION BASEMENT CEILING VAPOR BARRIER BASEMENT HEAT LOSS BASEMENT LEAKS, INSPECT FOR BASEMENT WATERPROOFING BATH & KITCHEN DESIGN GUIDE BATHROOM VENTILATION BEST CONSTRUCTION PRACTICES GUIDE Best Interior Finish Practices BLOWER DOORS & AIR INFILTRATION BLOWER FAN CONTINUOUS OPERATION BLOWER FAN OPERATION & TESTING BOOKSTORE - INTERIORS BRICK LINED WALLS BRICK VENEER WALL INSULATION BRICK VENEER WALL Loose, Bulged BRICK WALL DRAINAGE WEEP HOLES BUCKLED FOUNDATIONS due to INSULATION? BUILDING NOISE DIAGNOSIS & CURE BUILDING SAFETY HAZARDS GUIDE BUILDING SETTLEMENT CABINETS & COUNTERTOPS CACTUS FUNGI / MOLD CAR MOLD CONTAMINATION CARPET DUST IDENTIFICATION CARPET MOLD CONTAMINATION CARPET PADDING ASBESTOS, MOLD, ODORS CARPET FUNGICIDAL SPRAY CARPET STAIN DIAGNOSIS CARPET & other STAIN TESTS CARPET TEST PROCEDURE CARPETING & INDOOR AIR QUALITY CARPETING, SELECTION & INSTALLATION CASEWORK, CABINETS, SHELVING INSTALLATION CATHEDRAL CEILING INSULATION CATHEDRAL CEILING VENTILATION CEILING FINISHES INTERIOR CEILINGS, DROP or SUSPENDED PANEL CEILINGS, PLASTER TYPES CEILINGS, PLASTER, LOOSE HAZARDS CEILING TILES - Asbestos-Containing CHIMNEY INSPECTION DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR CHINESE DRYWALL HAZARDS Financial aid: Chinese drywall losses/repairs COMBUSTION AIR for TIGHT buildings CONDENSATION or SWEATING PIPES, TANKS CONDENSATION on WINDOWS & SKYLIGHTS CORROSION in ELECTRICAL PANELS CORROSION & MOISTURE SOURCES in PANELS COOLING LOAD REDUCTION by ROOF VENTS CHIMNEY INSPECTION DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR CHINESE DRYWALL HAZARDS CRAWL SPACES CONDENSATION or SWEATING PIPES, TANKS CONDENSATION on WINDOWS & SKYLIGHTS DECK & PORCH CONSTRUCTION DEW POINT CALCULATION for WALLS DEW POINT TABLE - CONDENSATION POINT GUIDE DIRT FLOOR MOLD CONTAMINATION DIRECTORY of MOLD / ENVIRONMENTAL EXPERTS DIRECTORY of OIL TANK EXPERTS DIRT FLOOR MOLD CONTAMINATION Disinfectants Disinfecting Buildings with Bleach DOORS, INTERIOR DRYER VENTING DRYWALL HAZARDS, CHINESE DRYWALL INSTALLATION Best Practices DRYWALL MOLD DRYWALL MOLD RESISTANT EARTHQUAKE DAMAGED FOUNDATIONS EFFLORESCENCE, Salts & White / Brown Deposits ELDERLY & VETERANS HOME SAFETY ELECTRICAL INSPECTION, DIAGNOSIS, REPAIR ENERGY SAVINGS in buildings FIBERGLASS INSULATION FIBERGLASS HAZARDS FIBERGLASS INSULATION MOLD FLAT ROOF MOISTURE & CONDENSATION FLOOD DAMAGE ASSESSMENT, SAFETY & CLEANUP FLOODS IN buildings-mold FLOOR DAMAGE DIAGNOSIS FORMALDEHYDE HAZARDS FOOTING & FOUNDATION DRAINS FOUNDATION CRACKS & DAMAGE GUIDE FOUNDATION WATERPROOFING FRENCH DRAINS FRAMING DAMAGE, INSPECTION, REPAIR FRAMING DETAILS for BETTER INSULATION FRAMING DETAILS for DOUBLE WALL HOUSES FRAMING DAMAGE, INSPECTION, REPAIR FRAMING DETAILS for BETTER INSULATION FRAMING DETAILS for DOUBLE WALL HOUSES FRAMING METAL STUD PERFORMANCE FREEZE-PROOF A BUILDING FROST HEAVES, FOUNDATION, SLAB FUNGICIDAL SPRAY & SEALANT USE GUIDE GAS EXPOSURE EFFECTS, TOXIC GAS DETECTION & MEASUREMENT GAS EXPOSURE LIMITS & STANDARDS GLARE, Sunlight/Lighting Control HEAT LOSS in buildings HEAT LOSS DETECTION TOOLS HEAT LOSS INDICATORS HEAT LOSS PREVENTION PRIORITIES HEAT LOSS R U & K VALUE CALCULATION HEAT TAPES & CABLES on Roofs for Ice Dams HEATING COST SAVINGS METHODS HOT ROOF DESIGNS: Un-Vented Roof Solutions HOT WATER HEATERS HOUSEWRAP AIR & VAPOR BARRIERS HOUSE DOCTOR, how-to be HOUSE PARTS, DEFINITIONS HUMIDITY LEVEL TARGET ICE DAM PREVENTION INDOOR AIR QUALITY & HOUSE TIGHTNESS INDOOR AIR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT GUIDE INDOOR HOUSE DUST & DEBRIS INSULATION CHOICES Insulation Air & Heat Leaks INSULATION FACT SHEET- DOE INSULATION for GREENHOUSE or SOLARIUM INSULATION IDENTIFICATION GUIDE INSULATION INSPECTION & IMPROVEMENT INSULATION LOCATION - WHERE TO PUT IT INSULATION LOCATION for BRICK VENEER WALLS INSULATION LOCATION for CAPES, CRAWLSPACES INSULATION LOCATION for CATHEDRAL CEILINGS INSULATION LOCATION for GREENHOUSE or SOLARIUM INSULATION MOLD INSULATION R-Values & Properties KIT HOMES, Aladdin, Sears, Wards, Others KITCHEN & BATH DESIGN GUIDE KITCHEN VENTILATION LIGHTING, EXTERIOR GUIDE LIGHTING, INTERIOR GUIDE LOG HOME GUIDE METAL LATH, PLASTER & STUCCO MOBILE HOME INSPECTIONS MOISTURE CONTROL in BUILDINGS MOLD: A COMPLETE GUIDE TO MOLD MOLD ACTION GUIDE - WHAT TO DO ABOUT MOLD MOLD APPEARANCE - WHAT MOLD LOOKS LIKE MOLD CLEANERS - WHAT TO USE MOLD CLEANUP GUIDE- HOW TO GET RID OF MOLD MOLD CONSULTANTS/INSPECTORS MOLD CULTURE TEST KIT VALIDITY MOLD DETECTION & INSPECTION GUIDE MOLD or INDOOR AIR EMERGENCY RESPONSE MOLD EXPERT, WHEN TO HIRE MOLD FAQ's MOLD ODORS, MUSTY SMELLS MOLD PREVENTION GUIDE MOLD RELATED ILLNESS GUIDE MOLD SAFETY WARNINGS MOLD SPRAYS, SEALANTS, PAINTS MOLD STANDARDS MOLD TEST KITS for DIY MOLD TESTS MOLD TESTING METHOD VALIDITY MVOCs & MOLDY MUSTY ODORS Nanomaterials Hazards SOUND CONTROL in buildings STAINS on buildings - QUICK GUIDE STAIN DIAGNOSIS on BUILDING EXTERIORS STAIN DIAGNOSIS on BUILDING INTERIORS STAINS & FINISHES, INTERIOR STAINS on INDOOR SURFACES: PHOTO GUIDE STAIRS, RAILINGS, LANDINGS, RAMPS STONE CLEANING METHODS STONE VENEER WALLS STUCCO WAll FAILURES DUE TO WEATHER STUCCO WALL METHODS & INSTALLATION STUCCO OVER FOAM INSULATION STUCCO PAINT FAILURES STRUCTURAL INSPECTIONS & DEFECTS SUMP PUMPS GUIDE SWEATING (CONDENSATION) on PIPES, TANKS THERMAL EXPANSION of MATERIALS THERMAL MASS in buildings THERMAL MASS FLOOR SLABS THERMAL MASS in UPSTAIRS THERMAL MASS WALL DESIGN THERMAL MASS in HOMES - STUDY THERMAL MASS TRADEOFFS, HEATING vs COOLING THERMAL TRACKING & THERMAL BRIDGING What is Thermal Tracking Ceiling Thermal Tracking Marks Wall Thermal Tracking Stains Floor Carpet Thermal Tracking Stains Air Bypass Leaks Marks on Insulation Thermal Tracking to Diagnose IAQ Stains HVAC Supply Registers Pet Stains on Floors Pet Stains on Walls Human Occupant Stains on Walls Stains from Candles, Woodstoves, Fireplaces Other Stains on Indoor Walls & Ceilings What to Do About Thermal Tracking TRIM, INTERIOR INSTALLATION TRUSS UPLIFT, ROOF TRUSSES, Floor & Roof VAPOR BARRIERS & CONDENSATION in BUILDINGS VENTILATION in buildings VINYL Siding or PLASTIC Window ODORS in buildings VINYL CHLORIDE HEALTH INFO WALL FINISHES INTERIOR WATER ENTRY in buildings WIND WASHING INSULATION At EAVES WINDOWS & DOORS WINTERIZE A BUILDING WOOD Burning Heaters Fireplaces Stoves WOOD FLOOR DAMAGE More Information |
This article series discusses and provides a best construction practices guide to the selection and installation of building interior surface materials, carpeting, doors, drywall, trim, flooring, lighting, plaster, materials, finishes, and sound control materials. This article includes excerpts or adaptations from Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction, by Steven Bliss, courtesy of Wiley & Sons. Also see INTERIORS of buildings, our home page for information about all topics relating to building interiors. © Copyright 2012 InspectAPedia.com, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use page top links to major topics or use links at the left of each page to navigate within topics and documents at this website. Green links show where you are in a document series or at this website. Guide to Selecting Indoor Wall-to-Wall Carpeting: Materials, Grades & Carpeting Installation Best PracticesAlso see CARPET DUST IDENTIFICATION and CARPET TEST GUIDE and CARPETING & INDOOR AIR QUALITY and see ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS - INSPECT, TEST, REMEDY for our full list of environmental hazard identification and remedy related to buildings. Materials Used in Wall to Wall CarpetingAs explained in the book, Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction Chapter 5, Interior Finish:
Traditional woven carpeting, representing only about 2% of U.S. production, is costly but creates a dimensionally stable and durable carpet including velvet, Axminster, and Wilton. With modern manufacturing techniques, however, nearly any style can be created using tufted construction. Common styles and their wear characteristics are shown in Table 5-8.
Nylon, considered the most durable synthetic carpet, accounts for about 60% of all pile carpeting. Most of the remaining are made of olefin and polyester, with wool accounting for less than 2% due to its high cost. Nylon is popular because of its good resilience (springs back rather than crushing) and overall durability (Table 5-9). Additives can give nylon good stain resistance.
Because olefin (polypropylene) is prone to crushing, it is generally used for low-pile designs, such as Berbers. Olefin is also widely used for indoor/outdoor carpeting used in high-moisture and recreational environments because of its resistance to moisture, mildew, and stains. Polyester carpeting is very soft to the touch but not as durable as the other synthetics. Quality Factors in Evaluating Wall to Wall CarpetingOther than the material, the durability of a carpet depends on several factors: density of the tufts, twist of the yarn, and heat setting. Density of Wall to Wall Carpeting PileDensity refers to how much yarn is used in the pile. The more tufts of yarn per square inch, the more yarn there is to wear and provide a resilient surface that resists crushing. The denser a carpet, the harder it is to push through the carpet to the backing with your fingers. Also, when bent back in a U-shape with the pile facing outward, a denser carpet will show less of the backing. Density is measured in stitches per inch or face weight, which is the weight of the fiber in the pile per square yard of carpet. When divided by the pile height, this gives the average density per inch of pile. These numbers are useful for comparing similar products that use the same materials, but otherwise can be misleading. Yarn Twisting Effect on the Durability of Wall to Wall CarpetingTwisting the yarn enhances the durability, particularly in cut-pile carpets. In most nylon, olefin, and polyester cut piles, the twist is set by heat or steam to help the carpet retain the twist. The cut ends of the carpet pile should be neat and tight. Pile Height of Wall to Wall CarpetsHigher piles create a softer feel and more luxurious appearance but tend to crush more easily and are more difficult to clean. Color and Pattern of Wall to Wall CarpetsMost carpeting today is very colorfast. Solution-dyed carpet, in which the dye is added to the fibers when they are made, is extremely colorfast. Yarndyed carpet, which is dyed after the yarn is made, provides some color variation and is also very colorfast. In general, light-colored carpets show dirt and stains, while dark colors show lint. Mottled colors such as tweeds and textured patterns tend to disguise dirt and wear, and are good choices for high-traffic areas and rooms where spills or stains are likely. Guide to Wall to Wall Carpet Durability Ratings and WarrantiesMany manufacturers rate the durability of their carpeting on a numeric scale or with descriptions such as low, medium, and high durability. These are a useful gauge of performance, but the proof is in the warranty. Look for a 7- to 10-year wear-and-stain warranty. Find out if the warranty is prorated or covers the full replacement cost. Also, read the fine print, as certain kinds of stains, such as pet stains, are often excluded. Carpet Pad Selection & Installation Guide
Good padding is sufficiently firm and resilient to absorb foot traffic, and durable enough that it will not break down or collapse over time. Good padding also increases insulation and soundproofing and makes carpeting easier to vacuum by allowing air to circulate through the carpet. For residential applications, pads should generally be no more than 7/16 inch thick for high piles and no more than 3/8 inch thick for Berbers or low piles. In general, softer, thicker pads are used in bedrooms, dens, and other rooms with light traffic. Thinner, firmer pads are recommended for living rooms, family rooms, hallways, stairs, and other high traffic areas. Berber-style carpets also require thinner, firmer cushions for support. If too thick, the pad can cause too much flexing in the carpet, weakening the backing and opening seams. A carpet pad that collapses, or starts out too thin, can cause carpeting to wrinkle or wear out quickly. Seams in the pad should run perpendicular to the carpet seams or be offset by at least 6 inches. Foam Padding Used Below CarpetsPrime urethane pads are the least expensive, but have a tendency to compress with use, particularly in high-traffic areas. As the pad compresses, the carpet backing can break down from too much flexing. For that reason, prime urethane pads are not recommended for carpeting subject to moderate or heavy traffic. One exception is a proprietary urethane called Omalon (E. R. Carpenter Co.), which has a special cell structure that resists crushing and is guaranteed for the life of the carpet. Rebond Padding Used Below CarpetsBonded or re bonded pads, made of multicolored scraps of high-density polyurethane foam bonded together, are the most common in residential construction. The denser the foam, the better the feel underfoot and the durability. The Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) recommends that rebond be a minimum of 5 pounds per cubic foot and 3/8 inch thick for light-traffic areas, such as a bedroom, and 6.5 pounds and 3/8 inch thick for heavy-traffic areas, such as hallways. For longer wear in high-traffic areas, use a 7- to 8-pound rebound. For a more plush feeling, choose a7/16-inch thickness. Fiber Padding Used Below CarpetsNatural and synthetic fiber pads are sometimes used under area rugs, commercial carpets, and some Berber carpets. They are made of jute or recycled synthetic carpet fiber and are among the densest and most resilient pads. Synthetic fiber pads are the best choice for potentially damp concrete floors. With synthetic fiber pads, look for a minimum density of 7.5 pounds per cubic foot or 12 pounds for jute. The thickness should range from 3/8 to 7/16- inch. Special Padding Used Below CarpetsSome Berber carpets require special padding. In general, the bigger the loop in the Berber, the firmer the padding should be. Woven carpet may also require special padding, typically an extra-dense fiber pad or, in some cases, a heavy frothed foam. Installation Procedure for CarpetingStretch-in installations using tack strips along the room perimeter are the most common approach in residential carpeting. Glue-down installations are primarily used in commercial work but are used residentially over slab-on-grade and in basements. Glue-down installations can either use carpeting with an attached cushion backing or the “double-glue” method in which the pad is glued to both the concrete and the carpet. For installations over concrete, the concrete should be fully cured and surface free of dirt, dust, and any curing agents. Subfloor Requirements for Carpeted FloorsA good carpet installation starts with a properly prepared subfloor. The minimum recommended subfloor is 3/4 inch T&G plywood, nailed and glued. For a higher quality job, an 1/4-to 3/8-inch underlayment should be installed over the plywood with the seams offset from the subfloor. Follow the underlayment specifications for resilient flooring, discussed above. Check for loose or squeaky spots and nail with spiral or ring-shank nails before installing the carpet. For a level transition, the top of the underlayment should sit about 1/2 inch below the finished height of adjacent solid flooring materials, such as wood, tile, or resilient flooring. Carpet and pad can also go over hardwood floors or tightly glued resilient flooring. Repair any loose areas or damage in the existing flooring before installing the pad and carpet. How to Handle Seams in Wall to Wall CarpetingMost residential carpeting in the United States is available in either 12- or 15-foot-wide rolls, but the installer needs a few inches of waste on each end for stretching installations, limiting the size of a room that can be done with no seams. Since all seams are visible to some extent, they should be placed where they are the least visible and get limited traffic, such as inside of closets. Seams should always run with the pile in the same direction. Where a room is lighted from windows, the seams should go perpendicular to the windows. In hallways, place any seams along the length of the hall. If a seam must be between rooms, make sure it is hidden when the door is closed. As the fibers are compressed from wear over time, seams become more conspicuous. Seams are easiest to conceal in deep, dense, cut-pile carpeting.With short loop-pile carpets, such as Berbers and other loop-pile carpets with heavy textures and irregular rows of tufts, it can be difficult to hide seams. Also carpets with pads hide seams better than glue-down installations. Where seaming problems are anticipated, use wider 6-inch hot-melt tape at seams rather than the standard 3-inch tape. The wider tape helps avoid a high spot at the seam. Carpet Installation: How Warm-Up and Stretching During Installation Avoids WrinklesTo avoid problems with wrinkling, carpeting should be warmed up to the normal room temperature for about 24 hours before it is installed. This can take place in the home or in a heated warehouse. The building should also be heated to normal temperatures before and during the installation and be free of excess moisture. If the carpet is installed cold, it can expand and wrinkle when heated to normal conditions. Wrinkling and ridging at seams can also result from carpeting that is not adequately stretched during installation. While manual stretching was adequate for older carpeting with natural jute backing, the polypropylene backing used today requires the greater force of power stretching. In fact, many manufacturers will not warrant their carpet on rooms larger than 12x12 feet unless it is power stretched. The stretched carpet is held in place with tack strips nailed around the perimeter of the room about 1 2 inch in from the baseboard. Standard 1-inch-wide tack strips are adequate for most carpeting, but some heavy woven and Berber-style carpets require 2-inch strips (or two 1-inch strips) to hold them securely in place. Health Effects of Indoor CarpetingIn recent years, a number of homeowners and advocacy groups have attributed a variety of health problems to exposure to new carpeting. Although studies have been inconclusive, the carpeting industry has taken steps to reduce exposures of certain chemicals and has established a certification program for low-emitting carpets. For more information, see CARPETING & INDOOR AIR QUALITY). -- Adapted with permission from Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction. Resources: Manufacturers, Industry Associations, & Sources of Indoor Wall Materials, Flooring, Carpeting, Lighting, Sound Control MaterialsResilient Flooring Manufacturers ListCongoleum www.congoleum.com Vinyl sheet flooring and tiles Domco (division of Domco Tarkett Group) www.domco.com Vinyl sheet flooring and tiles Forbo www.forbo-flooring.com Linoleum sheet and tiles Mannington Mills www.mannington.com Vinyl sheet flooring and tiles Nova Distinctive Floors www.novafloorings.com Laminated linoleum surface over fiberboard and cork planks, floating installation Tarkett www.tarkettna.com Vinyl sheet flooring and tiles Cork Flooring Manufacturers & SourcesAmerican Cork Products Co. www.amcork.com Prefinished parquet tiles and floating floor planks Amorim Revestimentos (formerly Ipocork) www.wicanders.com Floating or glue-down laminated cork tiles with UV-acrylic or oil finish BHK of America www.bhkuniclic.com Snap-together, no-glue, laminated cork flooring with UV-acrylic finish Expanko Cork Inc. www.expanko.com Cork tiles with wax or polyurethane finish Korq Inc. (212) 758-2593 Natural Cork www.naturalcork.com Glue-down cork tiles and floating laminated planks with UV-cured acrylic finish Nova Distinctive Floors www.novafloorings.com Laminated cork planks with glue-down and floating click-lock installation WECork www.wecork.com Cork tiles, sheets, and floating floors Industry & Trade Associations for Carpeting, Lighting, Finishes, Wood Products, Flooring, Painting & DecoratingAmerican Lighting Association www.americanlightingassoc.com Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industries www.awci.org Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) www.carpet-rug.org Drywall Finishing Council www.dwfc.org Forest Stewardship Program www.fscus.org FloorFacts www.floorfacts.com The Gypsum Association www.gypsum.org National Oak Flooring Manufacturers Association (NOFMA) www.nofma.com National Wood Flooring Association www.woodfloors.org Painting and Decorating Contractors of America www.pdca.org Smartwood/Rainforest Alliance www.smartwood.org -- Adapted with permission from Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction. See STAIN DIAGNOSIS on BUILDING INTERIORS and STAINS on buildings - QUICK GUIDE and STAINS on INDOOR SURFACES: PHOTO GUIDE as well as STAINS & Thermal Tracking. See Black stains from animals for details about pet stains on building floors (urine) and walls (various) and see Pet Stains on Walls for diagnosing stains such as the black marks left by pets on walls. Readers should also see STAINS on Indoor Surfaces: PHOTO GUIDE and for outdoor stains, see STAIN DIAGNOSIS on BUILDING EXTERIORS Questions & Answers regarding this article. Ask a Question or Search InspectAPediaHTML Comment Box is loading comments...
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