Carpet Ugly Out is not a desired appearance. Carpet is a frequently specified products for the larger areas of many residential and commercial installations. Ugly out most frequently experienced with carpet.
Deter Floor Covering “Ugly Out” in the Commercial Environment
In the floor covering industry the term “ugly out”, frequently heard As an example, most carpet fibers will withstand loss of pile from abrasion. Loss of pile thickness from abrasion is the common industry definition of wear. An improper selection of fiber, color or construction often results in loss of appearance due to packing, crushing, soiling and matting or “ugly out”. Most manufacturers warranties cover abrasive wear but they rarely cover appearance change.
Ugly out experienced with all flooring products. Project design requires consideration to all floor covering used. This includes hardwood, bamboo, ceramic tile, stone, cork, linoleum, sheet vinyl and specialty products. Regardless of the product selected, a poor choice will frequently result in a maintenance headache or premature failure.
Defining Expectations
- A product that will perform beautifully in a guest room may quickly “ugly out” in the lobby, corridor or on stairs.
- In an office the carpet that will perform magnificently in an executive office. The same carpet may quickly “ugly out” in the heavier trafficked offices.
- Installation that receives rolling traffic from heavy equipment.
- Or, frequently subjected to wheel chairs and walkers. Carpet may not be the best selection.
- The style of carpet, cushion and method of installation are all important considerations.
- Soil hiding characteristics of a floor covering installed in a restaurant, differ from a product installed in a hotel lobby of guest room.
To prevent carpet ugly out, careful considerations must be given to the selection of the floor covering.
- Floor covering products are often selected because someone liked the color or style.
- Color and style alone are emotional considerations.
- In a formal living room or master bedroom emotion may be fine.
- Program logic into your selection for high traffic areas.
Prevention
In a commercial installation durability, soil hiding characteristics and ease of maintenance are prime considerations. The traffic volume will be highest at entrances, elevator lobbies and corridors, as people must travel through these areas to get to the offices and conference rooms. The areas most prone to wear and soiling will be the traffic patterns near doorways. In offices the open areas between furnishings will receive the bulk of the traffic, beverage drips and spills. A few of the questions that you must know the answer to for optimal performance are:
- What is the traffic pattern?
- What is the expected volume of traffic?
- Are traffic areas distributed evenly?
- Or, is there a lot of cross traffic over the same areas.
- Is food or beverage served in the area?
- How clean are the walking surfaces of adjoining areas?
- Is a paved parking lot just outside of the entrance?
- Or, will the carpet be installed at some distance, or on a different level of the building?
Once you have logically defined the environment and expectations you have reached a point to where you can select a product that will not “ugly out”.
Additional carpet information found at Carpets Wall to Wall