When it comes time to select new carpet for a home, most people spend the majority of their time deciding on the style, color, and pile of the carpet. They sort through countless samples and deliberate over what will look best, last the longest, and match their budget.
With all those decisions to make, selecting the carpet padding seems to be an afterthought. After all, the carpet is what people see, so it’s really the only thing that matters, right?
That’s not entirely true. While the type of carpet you select is important, picking the right carpet padding can enhance the look and feel of your flooring and make it last longer too. How does it do that? The answer to that question can be found by understanding the purpose of a carpet pad.
Contrary to popular belief, the primary purpose of a carpet pad is NOT comfort. Surprised? It’s true. Carpet padding is actually designed to protect your carpet by providing a buffer that keeps it from rubbing against the bare floor. It also acts to lessen the stress on the carpet caused by people’s footsteps, furniture, and the occasional wrestling match in the living room.
In addition to its main purpose, carpet padding also acts as a cushion to make walking more comfortable. Padding improves the ability to clean your carpets by making it easier to raise the carpet fibers. It also dampens sound and provides thermal insulation. Who knew one little layer of foam could do so much?
So when it comes time to select the right carpet padding for your home, consider where and how the carpet will be used, and then consider the following common options:
- Waffle Rubber: This type of carpet padding is less popular than it once was. Its name comes from its waffle texture that allows carpet to rest partially on air, thus making the cushion softer. The drawback is that this type of padding is not always sturdy enough to support modern carpet and allows the carpet backing to move and crack.
- Urethane Foam: There are two basic types of urethane foam (aka foam rubber) — prime foam and frothed foam. Prime foam comes in different thicknesses and densities and while comfortable, doesn’t stand up well in high traffic areas. Frothed foam is more dense, and a carpet pad is typically made from this by applying it to a non-woven fabric. These pads are extremely durable and considered to be some of the best available.
- Bonded Urethane: Most carpet pads used today are bonded urethane. They are economical because they are made using foam scraps that are fused together and then attached to a mesh for strength. This is a good multi-purpose foam, provided it is not too thick. Padding that is too thick allows more up and down movement of the carpet, which breaks down the backing.
- Flat Rubber: This high-end carpet pad is made of the same materials as waffle rubber, but does not need the air pockets. While not as soft as some materials, it holds up extremely well in high-traffic areas.
- Fiber Cushion: This original form of carpet padding was once made from animal hair, but now uses nylon fibers. This pad is most commonly used under commercial carpets.