Here is a sample of an actual carpet report:
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END USER/OTHER’S COMMENTS
On the day of the inspection, XXXXXX stated the following:
*The carpet is installed on the whole second floor, the stairs, and one room on the first floor.
*The room on the first floor is not the same color.
*All of the carpet was delivered and installed on the same day.
*The condition was noticed shortly after the installation, and the family left for several months and recently returned.
*No cleaning has been done.
*The dates given are approximate.
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OBSERVATIONS:
The subject carpet was found to be in excellent physical condition with no evidence of soil lines, tracking, or structural damage. An initial visual survey noted a perceived color discrepancy between levels; while the second-floor carpet maintained its expected hue, the first-floor installation appeared significantly darker.
Comparative Analysis (Attic Stock vs. Field Installation): To determine if a manufacturing variance existed, a sample of "attic stock" (uninstalled carpet) was utilized for a side-by-side comparison:
*Second Floor: The attic stock was compared to the installed second-floor carpet. The colors were found to be consistent, confirming the installed material matches the original specifications.
*First Floor: The same attic stock was compared to the installed first-floor carpet. Despite the perceived darkness of the room, the fibers of the attic stock and the installed carpet were identical in color when viewed closely.
Illumination & Environmental Testing:
*Neutral Light Test: A 600-lumen neutral-spectrum light was directed onto the first-floor carpet from a vertical angle. Under this controlled light source, the first-floor carpet color matched the attic stock and the second-floor installation perfectly.
*UV Inspection: A sweep with ultraviolet light across the first-floor area yielded no fluorescence, ruling out chemical spills, biological contaminants, or topical treatments as a cause for the darker appearance.
*Atmospheric Conditions: The first-floor environment features a yellowish wall pigment and dark gold window treatments. These elements, combined with dim, warm-spectrum (golden) ambient lighting, contribute to a significant color cast on the floor surface.
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RELATED ISSUES
The field findings are consistent with "Metamerism" or lighting-induced color variance. The warm-spectrum (golden) lighting, combined with the reflective properties of the gold curtains and yellow wall paint, creates a visual environment that causes the light-colored carpet fibers to appear darker or discolored. The perceived staining is a result of the ambient lighting conditions and site-specific color cast rather than physical contamination or fiber degradation.
