If you want to make your new carpet last longer, reduce noise, provide installation and feel softer to walk on, install quality carpet padding under your new carpet.
Carpet Padding
A carpet pad is a sheet of spongy material that goes directly underneath your carpet. The cut is smaller than your carpet so it will fit inside the tack strip to hold both in place. Typically, it is either glued or stapled to the subfloor. Protecting your carpet is the main purpose of a pad.
Carpet pads absorb impact from below, relieving stress on carpet backing and fibers and they provided additional comfort underfoot. The thickness is important.
Carpet Padding Tips
The Carpet and Rug Institute recommends that you “install padding that conforms to the manufacturer recommendations for the specific carpet being installed”.
There are many types of padding: memory foam, step ahead carpet cushion with Nike grind and TrafficMASTER. 8-pound padding are recommended for pattern and loop carpets.
The Carpet Cushion Council recommends a “maximum thickness of 1/2 inch for cut pile residential carpet padding (carpet with textures and twists). The cushion under low-pile carpet, such as berber or commercial carpet with loop or patterns, should be 3/8 inches or less”.
Pad thickness (height) is important and typically most carpets call for 7/16” pad.
Pad density (weight) is the second factor in pad durability and is measured in pounds (per cubic foot). It is usually 3-10 lbs. for most common padding. If you want your carpet to last 10+ years, go with the 8+lb. pad and it will hold up much better.
Here are the densities for the type of pad based on carpetcushion.org:
Foam pad: Density is typically 2-5lbs.
Frothed foam pad: Density should be 12+ lbs. for durability.
Rebond pad: Density is 5-10lbs. Go for a minimum of 6lb if durability is important
Synthetic fiber pad: Usually rated in ounces but may be rated in pounds. Go for at least 30 oz and preferably 40 oz+ (or 7.5+lbs) if durability matters.
Waffle rubber pad: Go for a minimum of 64 ounces. 90 oz is preferred.
Slab rubber pad: Usually comes in 18-22lbs. I prefer 21lbs+ for durability or close to 100 ounces.
Auburn Carpet Specialists are the area’s premier carpet cleaning service company, family owned and operated, that has earned a solid reputation for premium quality service and customer satisfaction. With more than 20 years of experience, we can truly call ourselves ‘Auburn Carpet Specialists’. We are located in Auburn, Georgia. Contact us today for a FREE Inspection and Estimate or call at 770-867-7541.
