Shading, Footprints and Vacuum Marks
Shading
Even certain furniture styles can exhibit shading
Shading
Footprints-shading
Shading
Shading
Shading
Shading
Shading
Shading-crushing
Shading
Shading, Footprints, and Vacuum Marks (Carpet)
Floor Detective® Claims and Conditions Guide
Summary
Shading, footprints, and vacuum marks are lighting-related appearance conditions caused by temporary changes in carpet pile direction rather than dye variation or material defect. As carpet is walked on, groomed, or vacuumed, pile yarns reorient and reflect light differently across the surface, producing visible light and dark areas that may shift or reverse with viewing direction. These effects are most noticeable in dense cut-pile constructions where directional pile lay strongly influences surface reflectance. The carpet’s dye distribution, fiber integrity, and construction remain uniform, and the condition does not independently establish manufacturing defect or performance failure. See also Matting, Crushing, and Carpet Problems for broader context.
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