Carpet Wear Warranty

Carpet Wear Warranty and Abrasive Wear Resistance

The carpet wear warranty almost always refers to wear in the terms of abrasive wear. Carpet wear is described as the actual loss of the carpet face fiber through normal abrasion (foot traffic). A carpet wear warranty will cover periods from 5, 10, or more years and some are for lifetime. Carpet wear warranties cover against becoming abrasively worn through normal abrasion. Standard percentages used to establish the amount of wear required to be considered excessive wear range between 10% and 15%.

Abrasive wear is the only thing that an abrasive carpet wear warranty is covering and the fact is, while you can quickly ugly out almost any carpet, you can rarely achieve 10% abrasive wear on any of today’s synthetic carpet fibers.

Common Carpet Wear Warranty Exclusions

Covers only normal wear resulting in loss of pile fiber from the surface of the carpet.
Indoor residential use only.
Stairs are excluded.
Damage from such things as tears, pulls, cuts, burns, pets, furniture coasters, athletic equipment, athletic foot wear, vacuum marks or heavy wheeled devices.
Fuzzing, pilling, shedding, crushing and matting are excluded.
Changes in appearance caused by soiling or furniture depressions.
Common Abrasive Wear Consumer Compliance Requirements
The carpet must be properly installed. Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI 104 & 105) are routinely referred to.
The carpet must be installed over a pad that meets the manufacturer’s requirement. The manufacturer may refer to a pad meeting a particular specification, such as HUD UM 72a, Class 1, or Carpet Cushion Council standards. These specifications set minimum standards for weight, thickness and density along with other Tphysical characteristics that will determine a pad’s performance.
The carpet must be cleaned by a qualified professional and a period of time such as 1, 1 1/2, or 2 years will be specified. A particular method such as hot water extraction or dry cleaning will be specified by a particular manufacturer. Most manufacturers will require that receipts be maintained as proof of service. Some manufacturers will require that the consumer maintain a list of the products that are used to spot clean the carpet.

Modified from Carpet Inspectors Handbook by Terry and Kevin Weinheimer

TWG

Terry Weinheimer is a nationally recognized carpet and floor covering consultant, inspector and co-author of Carpet Inspectors Handbook.