Thread: Just started encapping and there are stripes and it looks weird. AHHH!

Jim,

Encapsulation has gone a long way from Shampooing.

I always thought that it was smoke and mirrors too.

For many years I sounded like you.

That was until I actually started cleaning commercial this way as a stand alone method.

My client are extremely happy with the results.

They seek me out to tell me their satisfaction.



If you haven't tried this method recently you should give it a test.

It could be quite a wake up call for you as it was for me.


As far as the problem I would encap it with a pad to solve the problem.

Our process;

Always "grin" the fibers to check for soil levels.
Pre-vacuum accordingly.
Deep clean heavily soiled areas with HWE.
Place airmovers
Clean entire area with encapsulation finishing where you hwe'ed last.

Hey Trevor,

I just want to make sure that your not describing a swirling problem? The streaks that you speak of, are they streaks because of soil, or are they streaks because the pile of the carpet is distorted?

Originally Posted by Gymee

Dave if it quacks like a duck.............

It IS the SHAMPOO method, same process and same results.
They've made polymer shampoos now for 20 years.
It's just that it's been REDISCOVERED and highly marketed as a new miracle cleaning method.
Dave you've been around as long as I have and I didn't expect you to believe all the hype.
As I have been bonneting and SHAMPOOing now for 15 years maybe it's because all you've done in the past was TM HWE?

Jim is correct. Whittaker has been "encapping" since the early '80s. The chemicals that crystallize are called “encapsulation” products, which sometimes help eliminate the common carpet cleaning problems relating to reappearing stains and traffic patterns

Any way to post pics?

I agree with Wes, pics would solve this quickly.

And if I might add to it, post bonnet always helps any cleaning process imo.

Hey Rob,

When you bonnet to finish you encap jobs, do you have any slight wicking problems. I know that I'm not using excess chemical when I encap, but I've found that if I run a bonnet over the carpet, it will wick a little bit.

My theory is that when I encap, the brushes lift the pile allowing all sides of the fiber to dry evenly. However, when you run a bonnet, it's really hard to prevent all your swirling problems with it a 175 machine. It will lay the fibers down in one direction preventing one side of the fiber from drying as quickly.

Just curious what your experiences have been?

Wes, maybe I missed it, but it was not clear to me which machine you were using. Possibly a counter-rotating brush machine, since you mentioned it stood the fibers upright.

The lines could be due to not over-lapping a couple of inches. It can also be variations in the concrete the carpet is glued to. The machine follows any slight variations in the height of the substarte. When the pile has all been lifted any variations are more pronounced.

Originally Posted by Scott W

Wes, maybe I missed it, but it was not clear to me which machine you were using. Possibly a counter-rotating brush machine, since you mentioned it stood the fibers upright.

The lines could be due to not over-lapping a couple of inches. It can also be variations in the concrete the carpet is glued to. The machine follows any slight variations in the height of the substarte. When the pile has all been lifted any variations are more pronounced.

Hey Scott,

I believe Trevor was the one that was having problems with the lines and stripes in this thread. Trevor, sorry if I hijacked your thread a little bit. Scott, this issue that I was referring to was a slight wicking problem that I sometimes have if I post bonnet an encap job.

Right now I just use a basic 175 machine with a carpet brush. I know it's not as good at lifting the fibers as a CRB machine, but I've found that it still does a fairly decent job.

As mentioned, sometimes if I post bonnet an encap I have some slight wicking problems, not very often, but once and a while. I know that I'm not using too much chemical. My theory was that any fibers that are lifted by the brush, are then laid back down with the bonnet. Those areas that happens to don't dry quite as quickly as an area with the fibers standing up.

Right now I just encap and never bonnet after. I never have wicking issues that way, and as I'm sure you know the results are awesome.

Anyway, I was just curious if Rob had run into problems like this as well. Maybe you could give some insight also.

OK, got it now.

I agree with not running the bonnet after a CR brush machine, at least for most carpet piles. The bonnet will help dry and maybe pick up a little additional soils but it does not look as good as pile that has been lifted by the CRB.

Originally Posted by wesdawg67

Hey Rob,

When you bonnet to finish you encap jobs, do you have any slight wicking problems. I know that I'm not using excess chemical when I encap, but I've found that if I run a bonnet over the carpet, it will wick a little bit.

My theory is that when I encap, the brushes lift the pile allowing all sides of the fiber to dry evenly. However, when you run a bonnet, it's really hard to prevent all your swirling problems with it a 175 machine. It will lay the fibers down in one direction preventing one side of the fiber from drying as quickly.

Just curious what your experiences have been?

Good point Wes about a 175. I forgot to mention that I use the bonnet pads with the Cimex.

Originally Posted by Rob Allen

Good point Wes about a 175. I forgot to mention that I use the bonnet pads with the Cimex.

I might have to break down and try a Cimex. I know the Interlink by me rents them, I'll think about that and testing it against my 175 on cleaning ability. Thanks Rob.