Walking on a plush carpet gives us a luxurious feeling. But that feeling can quickly turn into annoyance once you notice bubbles, ripples, and edges separating from the carpet backing. This is what we call ‘Carpet Delamination.’
In this blog, we will delve into many factors that cause carpet delamination in the first place. With the help of this, you can identify the root cause on time and take the right steps to restore your carpet’s smooth, beautiful look.
5 Factors That Lead To Carpet Delamination
1. Improper Carpet Installation
Delamination is bound to occur when the carpet is not installed as it should be. Carpets need to be stretched out during installation to ensure a smooth and even surface.
If the carpet isn’t stretched enough, it can cause wrinkles and folds. Over time, these areas can go through more stress and wear and thus, lead the carpet backing to separate.
Improper seam placement can also cause delamination. Seams are the areas where different parts of the carpet are joined together. When you employ the wrong seam technique or material, it can create weak spots on the carpet. These spots, in turn, become more prone to delamination under pressure or heavy traffic.
2. High-Foot Traffic
Heavy foot traffic on the carpet puts stress on the adhering material that holds the backing to the carpet fibers. In the course of time, this friction weakens the adhesive and causes the support to loosen.
Besides, high-traffic areas also lead to matting and squeezing of the carpet fibers. This puts extra load on the backing as it tries to hold the crushed fibers in place.
3. Excess Moisture
The carpet backing relies on latex glue to hold the primary and secondary layers of the carpet together. When this glue is subjected to excess moisture for longer periods, it breaks down and loses its sticky properties. This causes the separation you see as delamination.
What’s more, moisture is not the only cause. Damp environments open the gate for mold and mildew to grow and breed. These microbes thrive on the latex glue and further break it down.
4. Wrong Cleaning Techniques
Improper cleaning techniques and solutions are one of the major causes that delaminate a carpet. First, let’s talk about techniques. One of the most common carpet cleaning mistakes homeowners make is using water too much.
When water is used overly, carpets take a long time to dry. This prolonged dampness weakens the latex glue that holds the fibers to the backing. As a result, this creates a suitable breeding ground for mold and mildew that further breaks down the adhesive.
Chemical residue can also lead to delamination. When you do not rinse a solution properly, it can leave some residues behind. This residue can continue to eat away at the glue with time.
On the other hand, strong cleaning solutions can be too harsh for your carpet. These chemicals can tear down the latex and cause the backing to detach. Let’s take an example.
For example, to clean red wine spills, one usually needs club soda. However, if you opt for bleach, it can peel off the backing and fade away the fibers as well.
5. Poor Padding Quality
One of the main jobs of the padding is to provide proper support for the fibers. A thin or low-quality padding may fail to support the fibers evenly and can cause the carpet to wear out unequally.
Uneven wear puts extra stress on certain parts of the backing (especially in high-traffic areas) and increases the risk of delamination in those spots.
So That’s A Wrap!
Carpets add warmth and a unique style to our homes. But one of the most usual issues they often face is the ‘Delamination.’From fitting mistakes to using harsh solutions, a number of factors can lead to the separation of carpet fibers from the backing.
Thus, it is crucial to understand the common causes of carpet delamination and enact the right steps to keep them looking their best for years to come and avoid costly repairs down the road as well.
