[CARPET KNIGHTS]

can anybody tell me what sort of problems can occur when cleaning this stuff and if any what are their causes?

Cheers

[Dave_Lee]

Goron,
Tell us more, are you refering to 27 inch body carpet, when you say strips?
Dave.

[CARPET KNIGHTS]

yeh thats the stuff. it is in a large club. has a pattern not sure what it's made of some of the edging of the strips is frayed otherwise it is in quite good nick

[Derek]

Check the seams very carefully ...all the ones I have seen have been stitched and it is the integrity of the stitching that causes concern.

Derek

[Ken Wainwright]

A lot of body carpet in the commercial environment is joined with what is best described with a wax tape that is heated, the wax is melted and partly absorbed into the fabric to make a bond. Think of it as being a gigantic Bandaid sticking plaster. When done correctly, they are excellent. But even the best are subject to wear and tear and the join may be broken but not apparent. So check them as Derek suggests. Any damageed areas should be repaired prior to cleaning. Woven Body Carpet WILL shrink and split the joins. As you are asking this question, it's obvious that, like many of us, you have little carpet fitting experience, so get a decent fitter in to do the job for you.

Safe and happy cleaning
Ken

[Dave_Lee]

Body carpet is manufactured, with the intention that the joins along the lenghs are sewn. The finished edges are brought together and sewn tightly and in so doing a linear ridge along the underside lengh is formed. It is for this reason that sewn together body carpet must be fitted on top of felt underlay - the felt will allow the ridge to embed. Unfortunately, the use of rubber underlay is often used, this cannot allow embedding and causes the ridge to ride high on top of the underlay, thus attributing to rapid wear and deterioration of the trafficked parts on the joins.
Body carpet is commonly also joined using heat melt or silver seam. Unless the secure salvage edge along the sides of the made up lenghs are cut off and sealed prior to joining together, there will be a gap along all the joins where there will be no pile (Approx 3/8 th inch wide. This will also cause premature wear.
The fact that it is body carpet is a sign of very good quality usually 80 to 100 percent wool with a very tight close weave and cleaned professionally shouldnt cause any major problems subject to the usual testing.
Dave.

[Ian Rochester]

I've got one of these to do in a department store restaurant in a couple of weeks, 25m long  x 12m wide, went to survey it on Thursday, the store managers opening comment was "Mind it's a shrinker!".  However, the seams are fine but there is signs of shrinkage at one end, pulled away by 1" or more, obviously from a previous clean.  As a precaution I've taken some digi photos of the damage and quantified it in the quote, which takes account of the extra work required. 

I've done a few of these type before but not one of this length, in the past I have always secured both ends with ring nails every 3" - 4", I may even secure this in the middle too.  Need to be careful when cleaning over the seams.

They also want all their wicker dining chairs (140) washed down and cushions cleaned, table legs washed and wicker dividing screens washed!! All night job, two machines and 4 people

[Dave_Lee]

Ian,
Though good quality these carpets like any woven can shrink if overwetted and not securely fitted around the perimeter. Those that do shrink, are usually loose in the area that they puul away from, I have always found that a lot of these are fitted with an underlap with the gripper a couple of inches away from the skirting or sides. This is not a secure method and should always be pre pinned prior to cleaning.
Dave.

[Dave_Watson]

cleaned a hotel/restaurant  this morning with 27'' strip carpet along a corridor. The main consideration with these carpets is moisture, do as much agitation as possible and lightly rinse.
This carpet was heavily soiled with grease that come out of the kitchen, here's how i cleaned it. Vacuumed. Pre sprayed with Hydramaster Blitz (ok its not woolsafe but cuts through restaurant grease). Agitated with heated bonnet buffer. Extracted with RX 20 and truckmount. Positioned air movers immedietely as i cleaned.
Came up really well with no problems.
I think a lot of problems that are caused with these carpets, or indeed any that have heat seams are attributed to poor installation. Carpet fitters will often cut corners and costs and use standard grade heat seam tape, when heavy duty gold tape is required in high foot traffic areas. I had a problem a month ago with a jewellers shop where 5 seams split in doorways, carpet was fitted 3 years ago, i've cleaned it 3 times before with no problems, over time and with foot traffic the weld will degrade and split if its not to standard, usually when we clean it!