Commercial Flooring Report: Vol. 58, № 1 (Planar Instability in Floor Covering)

Commercial Flooring Report


 Volume: 58 |  Issue: 1 |  Download

What causes planar instability? Planar instability, that which prevents a modular flooring material, hard or soft surface from lying flat, is caused by internal forces generated by materials or layers in the flooring material, that exert forces or stress across or within the material, which create lifting or curling edges. This can occur on all four sides or two sides and is often in the "machine" direction or length, of the material. If, for example, a product is quarter turned the lifted edges will alternate — North South to East West and vice versa with every other tile. Planar stability is influenced by the forces within the flooring material and by changes in heat or humidity. There are tests to detect or prove the condition exists such as the cycled humidity test for carpet tile.

Commercial Flooring Report: Vol. 57, № 1 (Customer Expectations)

Commercial Flooring Report


 Volume: 57 |  Issue: 1 |  Download

The last flooring we had didn't do this. We expected it to last longer than this. We didn't expect the colors to run. We didn't expect the carpet to come off the floor. We didn't expect to have to replace it so soon. We expected it to look a lot better than this. We didn't expect it to get dirty so fast. We didn't expect it to fade. We didn't expect it to wear out under the chairs. We didn't expect it to scratch and dent like it has. We didn't expect the edges to curl. We didn't expect it to mat and crush the way it has. We didn't expect it to change colors. We didn't expect it to change in front of the sliding glass doors. We didn't expect…….? You fill in the blanks here because this is what is heard across the country daily from flooring end users who didn't expect you to disappoint them.