Carpets & Flooring
CRI Articles
IEHA Articles
The Clean Trust Articles
Features
Although many homeowners choose to decorate their homes in carpet, some prefer the clean, earthy, and/or upscale look of wood, ceramic tile, marble, vinyl, or stone. However, due to climate, abuse, natural disaster, even improper installation, hard surfaces can deteriorate, increasing the costs of repair or replacement if left unchecked. [Note: Ad or content links featured on this page are not necessarily affiliated with The Clean Trust and should not be considered a recommendation or endorsement by The Clean Trust.]
The Clean Trust (formerly the IICRC - Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification) can help by pointing you in the right direction for all areas of hard-surface inspection and problem analysis.
How do you know if you have a problem? Most of us look at the surface. Areas of concern could be: noticeable gapping, cupping, delamination, splits, dents, scratches, peaked seams, buckling, seam swelling or separation.
However, the problem can be like an iceberg. What we see on the surface is but a small part of a bigger problem underneath. The Clean Trust recommends using certified inspectors that are qualified through a series of courses on flooring product performance and specifications, along with typical problems that may be related to manufacture, installation, maintenance, or just specific flooring characteristics. They are trained to look under the surface, at subflooring, over which the floor coverings are installed. Is there mold? Is there cracking or wood rot? Certified professionals can diagnose the problem "underneath," and help homeowners better understand both what caused the problem as well as the best solution.
If you've noticed a change in the appearance of your hard surfaces, or have recently experienced flooding, earthquakes, or the like, The Clean Trust recommends not waiting to have an inspection. Doing so can help avoid additional problems later, and provide peace of mind that you’ve taken the steps to ensure your flooring is healthy, safe and sound.
The Housekeeping Channel (HC), a for-profit educational LLC, provides the information on HousekeepingChannel.com as a free service to the public. The intent is to disseminate accurate, verified and science-based information on cleaning and housekeeping.
While an effort is made to ensure the quality of the content and credibility of sources listed on this site, HC provides no warranty - expressed or implied - and assumes no legal liability for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, product or process disclosed on or in conjunction with the site. The views and opinions of the authors or originators expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of HC: its principals, executives, Board members, advisors or affiliates.
