So you’ve decided to buy new carpet. Congratulations! But did you know the comfort and longevity of your new carpet can depend heavily on selecting the right carpet padding? It’s true. Much like the foundation to your house, which is hidden from view but supports the structure, carpet padding is hidden from view but serves a vital role.
Your carpet padding is a sheet of spongy material that goes underneath your wall to wall carpet. It’s cut slightly smaller than the carpet itself so it will fit inside the tack strip that keeps the carpet in place. Your carpet installation team will attach the carpet pad to the subfloor, joining sections of padding with a specialized tape. Then they will lay the carpet down and secure it.
The main purpose of carpet padding is to protect your carpet. The pad keeps the underside of your carpet from wearing against the bare floor. It also absorbs the impact from footsteps and furniture, reducing stress on the carpet. According to the Carpet Cushion Council, carpets without cushioning lose, on average, 19 percent of their pile height from wear compared to a five to 10 percent loss for the same carpet with a separate pad. And if you’re thinking about installing carpet without carpet padding underneath, stop. With most carpet manufacturers, this can void the warranty.
Carpet padding serves a number of other purposes:
It creates a softer “walk” or feel to the carpet.
A pad makes cleaning your carpet more efficient. When you have padding, your vacuum cleaner can raise the carpet slightly and remove more dirt, which helps reduce allergic reactions.
It provides thermal insulation. A carpet pad stops the drafts that can seep through some porous carpeting. Padding has higher insulation R-value than carpet, keeping the room warmer. This can be especially important in basements.
Carpet padding absorbs sound. This is especially important for upstairs rooms, but even in a basement, a pad reduces sound more than a carpet alone.
When choosing your carpet padding, you should look at where you’ll use it. Think about what kind of activities or traffic the room sees. If it’s for a playroom or other area that sees a lot of activity, choose carpet pad that can take a beating. If you stand a lot or have kids who will play on the floor, consider thicker carpet padding for increased comfort. Carpeting your basement? Look for carpet padding that resists odor and moisture. Does someone in your home use a wheelchair? They don’t roll well on soft padding, so take that into account, too. Don’t be afraid to ask questions of the carpet store employees. Most times, they are very well informed and can help you weed through the choices.
Compare carpet padding, just as you do for your new carpet. Check the specifications, pricing and warranty. Decide on the carpet padding you want and ask the store to order it if they don’t have it in stock. If you’re replacing carpet, don’t be tempted to cut corners and save a few bucks by using the existing pad. It almost always needs to be replaced. And remember, failure to install new carpet padding at the time of carpet installation can void your warranty.
If you’re in the market for new carpet and carpet padding, stop by Carpet Concepts to check out all of the options. We’d love to work with you! We also offer free in-home consultations. Call us today at 410-256-0123 or use our contact form to request information. We serve homeowners and commercial clients in the greater Baltimore area, including Baltimore City, Baltimore County and Harford County.
