Pile Reversal – (Pooling – Watermarking)
Pooling/watermarking
The dark and light appearance reverses when viewed from different directions
Chair exhibits pooling/watermarking
Chair exhibits pooling/watermarking
Pooling/watermarking
Pooling/watermarking
Dark and light appearance reverses
This carpet is not wet
Pooling/watermarking
Pooling/watermarkingPooling
Pooling/watermarking
Pooling/watermarking
Pooling/watermarking
Pooling/watermarking
Pooling / Watermarking (Pile Reversal) (Carpet)
Floor Detective® Defect Guide
What You Need to Know
• Pooling, also referred to as watermarking or pile reversal, is an appearance-related condition characterized by abrupt changes in pile lay direction across irregular or wavering interface lines
• The condition is most commonly observed in…
Please subscribe to see all content
December 27, 2025
Wool and Wool Carpet Properties (Carpet & Rugs) Floor Detective® Claims and Conditions Guide What You Need to Know •...
Read More
December 13, 2025
Carpet Beetle Damage (Carpet) Floor Detective® Claims and Conditions Guide Summary Carpet beetle damage is an environmentally driven condition involving...
Read More
May 12, 2023
Fiber Properties (Carpet) Floor Detective® Claims and Conditions Guide Summary Fiber properties describe the inherent physical and chemical characteristics of...
Read More
December 15, 2022
Missing Row (Carpet) Floor Detective® Claims and Conditions Guide Summary A missing row is a manufacturing-related tufting condition in which...
Read More
September 1, 2022
Browning / Soil Wicking (Carpet) Floor Detective® Claims and Conditions Guide Summary Browning and soil wicking are post-wetting discoloration conditions...
Read More
March 13, 2021
Backing Wrinkles / Backing Distortion (Carpet) Floor Detective® Claims and Conditions Guide Summary Backing wrinkles, also referred to as backing...
Read More
March 13, 2021
Unraveling / Runs (Carpet) Floor Detective® Claims and Conditions Guide Summary Unraveling, also referred to as runs, is a physical...
Read More
March 13, 2021
Roll-Core Crush / Pile Reversal (Carpet) Floor Detective® Claims and Conditions Guide Summary Roll-core crush, sometimes referred to as a...
Read More
March 13, 2021
Traffic Lane Gray (Carpet) Floor Detective® Claims and Conditions Guide Summary Traffic lane gray is an appearance-related carpet condition in...
Read More
March 13, 2021
Top Cuts (Carpet) Floor Detective® Claims and Conditions Guide Summary Top cuts are a physical damage condition involving partial severing...
Read More