The Clean Trust was formerly known as the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) whose purpose is to ensure that consumers have access to trusted and trained cleaning professionals by establishing and monitoring certification programs and standards for the cleaning, restoration and inspection industries.
Why The Weinheimer Group?
March 31, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Terry Weinheimer and Kevin Weinheimer of The Weinheimer Group LLC are respected Floor Covering Consultants and Certified Floor Covering Inspectors. Kevin and Terry are experts at preventing floor covering problems, identifying the cause of a flooring problems and claims resolution. Our services are available for most types of floor covering including carpet, laminate, hardwood, vinyl, VCT, linoleum, cork, concrete and most other flooring materials and installation systems.
Clients include: We are frequently commissioned by home owners, fiber companies, floor covering manufacturers, wholesale distributors, retailers, onsite construction companies and manufactured home builders, insurance companies, attorneys and others.
Problem solving: After a thorough analysis, we determine if the problem is product related, an installation error, site related, normal characteristic, improper specification, or other condition.
*Forensic investigation
*Third party non-bias consulting
*Claim evaluation
*Research and advice
*Expert witness appearance*
*Consulting services by phone or in person
*Industry educational & training services
*Industry technical writing & review services
*Moisture vapor emissions testing
*Specialized warranty correction services
From our central office in Eugene, Oregon we are available for nationwide service and are prepared to travel anywhere in the world upon client requests.
Feel free to contact us with your questions.
The Weinheimer Group LLC
Contact Terry or Kevin
1430 Willamette Street Suite 21
Eugene, OR 97401
Telephone: 800-621-3427
Facsimile: 800-418-6111
Inspector Services
March 31, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Carpet Inspectors May Offer Other Services
Carpet Inspectors often offer additional services such as inspections for laminate, hardwood, resilient and specialty floors.
Qualified inspectors may offer warranty services, repairs, cleaning, moisture testing, specifying, and consulting services.
Expert, certified inspectors may serve as an arbitrator, coming up with a solution that is equitable to all involved.
Inspectors may deal with state contractor boards or other regulative agencies.
Inspectors will also deal with cleaning chemical companies, suppliers or carpet manufacturers such as Shaw, Mohawk and Beaulieu or manufacturers of protective materials used on floor covering and an array of other organizations.
As you can see, an inspector may be commissioned by a number of different sources. Sometimes they will be commissioned by more than one source. The dealer may contact them for an inspection which he turns in to the supplier, and later the fiber producer or manufacturer wants an inspection of their own and a short time later the other company wants an inspection. The IICRC, FCITS and others will certify floor and carpet inspectors. It is through years of practice, education and dedication that one becomes a qualified expert inspector.
Article modified from Carpet Inspectors Handbook written by Terry Weinheimer and Kevin Weinheimer of The Weinheimer Group, LLC. Terry Weinheimer and Kevin Weinheimer are Certified, Qualified, Expert Carpet Inspectors and Floor Inspectors. They have operated a full time inspection and consulting company for over 20 years. Terry and Kevin may be contacted by using this Contact Form or at at 800-621-3427
The Qualified Carpet Inspector
March 31, 2012 By Leave a Comment
A carpet inspector by nature is a unique, inquisitive individual that has and continues to develop both standard and unusual talents in and outside of the carpet industry. A carpet inspector looks at carpet differently than a manufacturer, dealer, installer, cleaner, consumer and others. The inspector is looking at a carpet or other floor covering to determine if the product is performing normally, and if not, who or what has caused the problem.
The inspector must judge by using established and excepted industry standards, and in the absence of these standards be able to use their knowledge and experience as a guide in reaching an honest, fair and reasonable conclusion. The inspector must not allow emotions, greed, or feelings to get in the way.
The carpet inspector is an individual who must maintain a non-bias position, searching out and presenting factual information that can be backed up in court.
The inspector is the “eyes and ears” of the carpet industry, reporting what is seen and heard. The inspector is also the “advocate” of the consumer whose issues may go against those of the carpet industry.
A carpet or floor inspector should be certified by an organization such as IICRC or FCITS. A certified inspector will often provide carpet inspections for a carpet manufacture such as Shaw, Mohawk or Beaulieu. Certification alone does not make the inspector expert or qualified.
A qualified, expert carpet inspector must be a motivated individual, a self-starter with a great deal of industry knowledge. A qualified, expert inspector must be punctual and complete a project in a timely manner.
Ideally, a carpet inspector will have a well rounded floor covering background with knowledge that will include floor covering sales, carpet manufacturing, carpet construction, fiber production, the ability to recognize visible and latent defects, knowledge of expressed and implied warranties, padding specification and performance, cleaning procedures, installation procedures, carpet dyeing methods, adhesives and their uses, laboratory testing procedures, investigative processes, report writing and management techniques.
The inspector should also be a communicator and an exceptional listener; a typist, chemist, psychologist and detective. Practically speaking, few if any will have such a background and must enrich their knowledge through reading, talking with others, attending training courses and seminars, and through hands on experience in areas where they are lacking.
A qualified, expert carpet inspector must construct reports so they are accurate, understandable and diplomatic.
A qualified, expert carpet inspector is a detective that will search out and reconstruct many unusual problems, some of which they are seeing for the first time, even after many years in the business.
A qualified, expert carpet inspector is a psychologist, able to understand and work with the manufacturers, consumer, dealer, installer and others that may be associated with a given claim.
A qualified, expert carpet inspector must have a thick skin and yet be a diplomat and psychologist, for it is not unusual for the floor covering inspector to be spoken to rudely by the upset consumer who has been receiving the run around from the dealer and/or the manufacturer. The qualified carpet inspector will accept the fact that it is not them you are upset with but the situation itself and the inspector is often the first face to whom the consumer has had the opportunity to express their anger.
A qualified carpet inspector need not be a chemist but must be willing to gain some of this knowledge as they will perform many basic chemistry tests.
A qualified carpet inspector must be willing to travel for carpet inspections are not brought to the inspector. When you add the driving time on to the inspection time, report writing time, and office time a qualified carpet inspector will often work very long days.
A qualified carpet inspector must be able to listen and not talk too much, for the information that they are gathering is generally for the eyes and ears of the one that commissioned them and it is up to the commissioning party to decide who they share the inspection report with.
Article modified from Carpet Inspectors Handbook written by Terry Weinheimer and Kevin Weinheimer of The Weinheimer Group, LLC. Terry Weinheimer and Kevin Weinheimer are Certified, Qualified, Expert Carpet Inspectors and Floor Inspectors. Terry and Kevin may be contacted by using this Contact Form or at at 800-621-3427
Carpet and Rug Institute
December 30, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Carpet and Rug Institute – Global trade association, representing manufacturers and suppliers of carpets, rugs, and floor covering. Includes technical and consumer related information.
The Restoration Industry Association (RIA)
December 30, 2009 By Leave a Comment
The Restoration Industry Association (RIA) was previously known as ASCR – Association of Specialists in Cleaning and Restoration – The RIA serves and represents the interests of the commercial and residential restoration and cleaning industries by promoting the highest ethical standards; providing education, professional qualification and certification opportunities; positively influencing regulations and governmental actions; and advancing the safety, image, efficiency, and competitiveness of industry members.
Installing Wall to Wall Carpet
December 17, 2009 By Leave a Comment
The look and feel of an interior is highly dependent upon the carpet or other floor covering. Poorly installed or shabbily appearing carpeting will have a profoundly negative effect on the overall interior. For the past several years Certified Carpet Inspectors on an industry wide basis have found improper carpet installation and installation error to be a leading cause of complaint. For a long lasting, problem free installation care must be taken in the selection of a carpet installation contractor.
A great appearing properly installed wall to wall carpet catches ones eye tying together the other interior components. Unfortunately a sloppily installed carpet with seams that are not matched or poorly joined, has fuzzy edges, ripples or another problem also catches the eye and cheapens the look of what was supposed to have been a beautiful new interior.
Unlike other floor covering carpet gives off undeniable warmth, vibrancy, and an aesthetic appeal. There is a wide range of colors, textures, materials, and designs available that can uniquely transform the interior of any room. Your carpet installation has a long term perspective, so it’s important that you select the best one for your needs and install it right the first time.
Once you have selected your wall to wall carpet, you’ll need to have it installed. Professional carpet installers can do the job for you, or you can choose to do it yourself. Even though doing it yourself is cheaper than hiring a professional, it isn’t recommended unless you have chosen a product such as carpet tile. Even with tiles the professional will have the knowledge and right tools to assure that the job is performed right.
A great way to ensure a professional installation of your carpet is to buy from an authorized carpet retailer or dealer. Most of the time, your carpet retailer will have an installation staff that is very experienced with installing carpet.
If the retailer doesn’t offer an installation service, they can still guide you to a reputable and experienced installer. Even though installation by a retailer is a bit more expensive, it offers several advantages. The experience will show in their work and you’ll come out better in the long run. You can also approach them if you aren’t satisfied with anything they have done.
You should always remember to get references from the carpet contractor and inquire about their experience, where they received their training, and any certification they may have. Two excellent trade organization where you can search for a carpet contractor or installer are, CFI – Certified Floorcovering Installers. http://cfi-installers.org/consumers/recommendations.html or FCICA – The Floor Contractor Association https://www.fcica.com/members/member-directory
You can also ask for references and call those that the installer has previously worked for, as this will give you an idea of their work before you hire them. If there are installations you can actually visit you may want to do so.
How Carpet is Made
December 17, 2009 By Leave a Comment
At one time the most popular method of carpet was weaving and the fiber was primarily wool. Over 50 years ago tufting a process once used to make bedspreads came into popularity for making carpet. Today most carpets are made with synthetic fibers and still tufted. Unlike weaving which is a very slow manufacturing process tufting makes carpet at very high speeds. A saying in the carpet industry is that carpet was once manufactured by the yard and is now manufactured by the mile.
For both weaving and tufting many of the procedures are similar while others differ significantly.
Woven Carpet: The yarn for the carpet is woven through or around vertical fibers known as warps, and then locked into place with horizontal strands known as wefts. The woven carpets can utilize a variety of colors as well to create intricate patterns in the highest quality of carpets.
Tufted Carpet: Tufting machines sew the carpet yarn through a backing material leaving a loop. For cut pile carpet the looped is cut during tufting. Patterned carpets can also be created on tufting machines. Computers are used to determine the patterns, styles, construction, and density. No longer does someone have to do everything by hand or mentally, as the tufting machines will take all of the guesswork out and make things easy on the operator.
Once the fibers have been locked into place, the carpet is dyed using a variety of methods that will create patterns or effects. For cut pile carpets, in the final stage the pile is sheared to give the cut loops a level surface.
A secondary back is applied to the carpet to give it stability and allow it to be stretched during the installation process. Most of the carpets of this day and age will receive stain protection as well, which happens during the manufacturing phase.
The manufacturing method used will affect how the carpet is installed. In the past, the creation of carpet was a very complicated process, as there were no computers or technology to do most of the work. Back then, it was all done by hand. The carpets were great, although colors and textures to select from were limited.
Today’s faster production level has helped to hold down costs for the end user. This has added to the popularity of carpet and enabled individuals the opportunity to redecorate more often than most of us would otherwise be able to do.
Carpet Repair
December 16, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Accidents occur and your wall to wall carpet can sustain damage. An ember flies out of the fireplace leaving a burn, stains, snags, crushing, fading, furniture legs leaving marks, bleeding, sprouting, and even pesky carpet beetles are a few of things that may require a repair to your carpeting. If you like taking on the challenge of do it yourself projects there are many carpet repairs that you will be able to make. If you are not handy or just don’t have the time, it may be advisable to hire a professional to handle your repair.
Burns
Small burns from a flying ember or cigarette butt may require no more than trimming with scissors. Deeper burns up to the size of about a fifty cent piece can often be repaired by gluing in some new tufts with a bit of white waterproof glue. Larger burns will usually require cutting out a section and replacing it with a remnant piece or section of carpet cut from an area such as a closet. These larger types of repairs are usually best done by a professional carpet installer or carpet repair person.
Fuzzing
This occurs when loose fibers come out on the edges of the carpet. To fix this, simply cut the fibers that are sticking out.
Furniture marks
Heavy furniture can result in indentations being left on the carpet. To get rid of these nasty marks, you can steam them with a fabric steamer or sprinkle the area with a bit of club soda, place a towel over the area, then iron it. Do this a couple of times and the pile will be rejuvenated.
Shading, crushing, and matting
With heavy traffic the surface of the carpet can flatten, giving it a shaded appearance. This can be improved by brushing the pile up and vacuuming. With use the area will likely continue to crush and shade. Frequent raking or brushing and very thorough vacuuming will help keep the pile standing more erect.
Shedding and snagging
Shedding is most common with carpets manufactured with spun (staple) yarn. This shedding is a characteristic and does not indicate excessive wear. Shedding is controlled by thorough vacuuming. While some carpet will shed for ever, with thorough vacuuming a carpet will shed less.
Snags (Sprouting)
Snags are tufts that have pulled out of the surface of the carpet. They will occur more often with loop pile than cut pile carpets. You should never pull them off, but instead cut them off neatly with a pair of scissors. On a looped carpet where a small row of tufts are pulled out you can reburl the area by carefully placing a bit of waterproof glue on the area and pushing the yarn back into place.
Static electricity
If you are experiencing nasty little shocks when you touch a door handle or another person while walking across your carpet you are experiencing the effects of static electricity. The severity of static electricity depends on the carpet material, construction, and padding. Humidity will play an important role as the moisture in the air is absorbed by the carpet fibers. A humidifier will help to increase moisture will often take care of the problem. At janitorial or carpet cleaning supply houses you can also purchase static control treatments that you can spray on the surface of the carpet.
Carpet beetles
The best way to deal with carpet beetles is with a strong vacuum suction. You should always avoid spillage and keep the surface of the carpet clean of food. The carpet beetles are quite annoying, as they feed on wool, hair, hides, fur, grain, seeds, and flour. If the carpet is badly infested contact a professional carpet cleaner.
Bleeding or crocking
Bleeding of the carpet is the loss or transfer of the color from one section to another. Crocking on the other hand is the loss of the carpets color when it is rubbed. If your carpet is crocking or bleeding contact the dealer you purchased it from and ask for an inspection and there may be a defect.
While you can certainly handle many small carpet repair jobs yourself, when you have damage that you cannot handle calling a pro is almost always worth the investment. Spending a bit of money on a professional repair can save you the cost of replacement.
Carpet Cleaning Tips
December 16, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Around 80% of the soils that enter a building or home are dry. The remaining 20% are greases, oils, and starches. Keeping a carpet clean will extend its life while keep it looking new for a longer period of time. A clean carpet will also reduce household allergens and dust helping to protect the health of your family. Following are a few tips that will help you care for your carpet.
Tip 1 Vacuuming
The dry soil types are easily removed by vacuuming. As long as they are removed on a daily basis, it will help to minimize the damage to the carpet. Regular thorough, deep vacuuming is surely the most important step when it comes to carpet care. While non-traffic areas can be vacuumed quickly major traffic areas should be vacuumed in more than one direction as you run the vacuum slowly giving it time to pick up the deeper soil. Not all vacuum cleaners are equal and a good quality vacuum will do a better job of cleaning. A good quality vacuum is not necessarily the most expensive.
Tip 2 Walk Off Mats
Keep those dry and gritty outdoor soils from being tracked on to your wall to wall carpet. One of the best and easiest ways to do this is to use walk off mats and area rugs at entrances. Always use entrance mats outside of your doors and make sure that anyone who enters your home use the mats to help get debris and dirt off of their shoes before they enter. Where possible also use an area rug or walk off mat inside your door to help trap soil missed by the outside mats. All mats and rugs need to be vacuumed and cleaned regularly so that they are trapping dirt and not placing dirt on to your shoes.
Tip 3 Shoes
Many people prefer that their family and guest go shoeless on their carpet. This can be helpful, especially if you have slippers that are only worn indoors that you slip into upon entering. The oils from oily bare feet will transfer from ones feet to the carpet.
Tip 4 Pets
If you have pets you need to understand that oil does transfer from pet hair to carpet. Placing an area rug in areas where your pets like to lay will provide excellent protection for your carpet.
Tip 5 Spots and Spills
Keep your eye out for spills and take care of them in a quick manner to keep your carpet clean. Most spots and spills can be easily cleaned by blotting with no more than clean tap water and a towel. If water does not work you will need to use a cleaning product for the specific type of spot you are experiencing problems with. See Spot Cleaning Chart.
Tip 6 Deep Cleaning
Have your carpet professionally deep cleaned before it becomes too soiled. A good thorough cleaning for your higher traffic areas should be performed at least every 12 to 18 months. See More on Cleaning Methods
A well maintained home and clean carpet will not only add value to your home it will also extend the life of your carpet, protect your carpet warranty, reduce household and pet odors, assist you in keeping your family healthy and your friends and other visitors will be impressed at how nice your home looks.
Optical Brighteners
While optical brighteners can make a carpet appear cleaner, they have a harmful effect on carpet fibers. Technical people in the carpet industry have unanimously taken a stand against the use of brightening agents in the cleaning process. But, even with all of the adverse publicity, optical brighteners or color brighteners, as they are often called, are still used in some spot cleaning products, shampoo, dry-foam and extraction detergents.
Optical brighteners are actually dyes, which reflect the light and eventually cause yellowing in carpet fibers. For this reason alone, every legitimate carpet cleaning company should outlaw their use.