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UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Graeme@Access on March 31, 2009, 08:44:43 am

Title: Water damage bleaching carpet?
Post by: Graeme@Access on March 31, 2009, 08:44:43 am: Morning all,

Last week we were called out to look at 2 carpets in a small retail development. The carpets are in two separate units at the same location, but basically independent apart from the fact they are suffering from the same problems.

The carpet is a bitumen backed nylon tile and with the way it reacts to hot drink spillages i would say its been dye blocked. Its resin bonded directly to a poured concrete floor.

In both units there is a door that doesn't seal properly and water ingress is visible. In the unit i have the pictures of, the sub-floor was still wet when we arrived. I would expect the other unit to be the same, but it was a busy retail unit and i couldn't check. Similarly, both use the "initial" type of rubber backed matting that seems to be allowing the carpet to sweat.

Im wondering what is causing the red shifting of the dye?

Phase 1 of shifting >> water seepage under tile and typical black lines appear of what look like soil from a water spillage. They are not removable and therefore i don't think they are soil lines.

Phase 2 of shifting is that the colour of the carpet is moved to the red region. Typical of a bleaching effect.

Picture 3 is an example of the the area.

Any ideas?

Graeme
Access cleaning Solutions
Title: Re: Water damage bleaching carpet?
Post by: Graeme@Access on March 31, 2009, 08:45:37 am: overall
Title: Re: Water damage bleaching carpet?
Post by: robert meldrum on March 31, 2009, 11:13:09 am: The pink around the tile borders and the pink bloth are reminiscent of a similar problem that occurs in an upholstery fabric which has been the subject of postings in the past. Could the cause be the same and maybe it could be resolved in the same way.

Unfortunately I don't remember the details, but someone on here will have the answer today !!!!!!!!!!!!
Title: Re: Water damage bleaching carpet?
Post by: derek west on March 31, 2009, 01:39:37 pm: it was acidic rince turning green upholsery pink, try an alkaline, or visa versa, just dab a bit with a high ph and if nothing happens dab it with a low one. worth a shot but can't see it being that. but ya never know, but i doubt it, tbut then again. oh just try it. ;D
derek
Title: Re: Water damage bleaching carpet?
Post by: Joe H on March 31, 2009, 01:51:29 pm: If you find a solution or not, they must address the problem - the water leak.
Title: Re: Water damage bleaching carpet?
Post by: clinton on March 31, 2009, 02:03:01 pm: Could be permanent am afraid ::)
Title: Re: Water damage bleaching carpet?
Post by: Steve Barnett (Carpet Care Plus) on March 31, 2009, 02:07:24 pm: Is it a new concrete slab ?
Was it fully dry ie: less than 75% relative humidity before tiles were laid ?
If not, then the fact that the tiles are fully adhered, which they shouldn't be - they should be laid on a easy release tackifier adhesive, you could have moisture still in the sub-floor.

However, as Joe says it could simply be the water ingress.
Title: Re: Water damage bleaching carpet?
Post by: Bob Robertson on March 31, 2009, 04:03:23 pm: Graeme

I had one where over a period of time the cleaner was cleaning the corridor floor with bleach and then stepping onto the carpet . It was only at the door entrance that was absorbing the residue from her shoes that turned the blue carpet pink. It looked very similar to the pink mark in your photo.

Bob
Title: Re: Water damage bleaching carpet?
Post by: Graeme@Access on March 31, 2009, 05:28:20 pm: Hi,

Yeah thats what i thought bob, i have seen bleaching do this loads, but never just water.

Its definitely not coming from any kind of cleaning as its protected usually by a rubber backed floormat. Also it happening in both units who are cleaned by different people.

Its not an indicator dye as i tried that, its not a residue, or it would have cleaned out.. ???

I dont expect to remove it, but it would put my mind at rest to know what it was.

Graeme
Access Cleaning Solutions
Title: Re: Water damage bleaching carpet?
Post by: Peter Blackburn on March 31, 2009, 10:48:10 pm: Fifth generation tiles and someone looks to have gone in with something topping Ph 9.5-13.
Insurance claim there.

Peter
Title: Re: Water damage bleaching carpet?
Post by: robert meldrum on March 31, 2009, 11:08:45 pm: More in tune with my thoughts Pete, but I've forgotten more than I know, if you know what I mean. Some say it's early dementia heaven forbid !