[expro]

Why do Belgium Wiltons shrink?

[phil_humphrys]

You got it to wet??

[expro]

Why do Belgium Wiltons shrink?
MORE THAN OTHER WILTONS.?

[Mike Halliday]

the face fibres made of polypropylene are a manmade fibre and have zero water retention so any excess water will pass through the carpet into the backing. this is the problem, but it doesn't shrink, IT GROWS or more exactly it swells.

this cuases shrinkage because the polypropylene fibres wrap around the the swelling fibres, the swollen fibres are now bigger so the faces fibres have to travel a greater distance, because they are a set length they cannot do this so they pull in. Which shows its self as a shortening of the carpet.

once the carpet dries the swelling will go back, so sometimes the carpet will return back to its normal size, so don't kick it back until it is completely dry

hope this makes sense

[clinton]

Also there was a batck from the 90s that that were manafactured that were all prone to shrinkage as i remember

Shaun might be also able to shed some light on the post too

[expro]

Mike.Thanks for that but i understood that the pile is polypropylene and the weft shot is jute. when the jute gets wet it swells causing the chain stitch to travel further and in doing so the carpet shrink.It may be possible to restretch the carpet provided the shrinkage is no more than 5% of the total length.

[Mike Halliday]

is'nt that what I said, but you said it better

but begs the question why ask in the first place?

[expro]

 : : :

[expro]

Soory Mike
The smileys came out but lost the message which was,I think it is important to get the message across that most if not all carpet cleaning problems can be found and asessed by doing a full survey prior to cleaning.I also wondered how many would get close to the technical side of the subject.