The Importance of a Fantastic Pad for New Carpeting

When you shop for carpeting, the very last thing on your mind could be the pad which goes under it. But truthfully, the pad is equally as important as the carpeting — if not more — when you want to extend the life span of your carpet. Padding gives you more than just a cushion beneath your carpet, in addition, it increases the insulation and sound qualities of the floor. A good mat also retains your carpet cleaner by allowing for greater dirt removal and airflow during vacuuming. The federal government sets the standards for carpets and padding in Federal Housing Administration and Housing and Urban Development backed houses.

Padding Types

Carpet padding comes in sensed, urethane, rubber and in combinations of all of these substances, as well as memory foam. While some pads clearly outperform others, the kind you choose mainly depends on the carpeting style you buy. Some kinds of carpet padding have lifetime guarantees when installed with new carpeting. Never put a fresh carpet over a classic pad, unless the pad was designed for more than 1 installation of carpet. Old pads can produce the carpet bubble or pucker, which causes wear and an unsightly appearance.

Pad Density

Pad density plays a greater role than thickness in lengthening your rug’s life. Cushion density ranges from 8 and 6 pounds around 21 pounds per cubic foot for high-traffic areas. Pads with less density result in more wear and tear on the rug’s surface, whereas denser pads provide more cushioning to the toes. Check the carpet manufacturer’s recommendations for pad density when choosing the carpeting. To find the best fit and wear, then match the carpet to the pad.

Pairing Cushion With Carpet

The Carpet and Rug Institute — a membership organization devoted to teaching consumers, the sector — recommends specific pad thicknesses for certain carpets. For example, high-level loop, cut loop and residential cut pile rugs need no less than 1/4 inch around 7/16 inches of thickness with 6 pounds per cubic foot for pad density. Thinner loop, cut pile or Berber carpeting requires a 3/8-inch pad with little flexing to supply a unchanging base. The latter carpet types do not gain from softer, thicker pads.

Green Carpet and Pad

Carpets and pads frequently get blamed for health or allergy issues because of the volatile organic substances or compounds used during production. However, most VOCs dissipate within 48 to 72 hours of installation once the home receives great ventilation during and after installation. To make certain you buy a rug and pad with the lowest VOCs potential, look for the CRI Green Label and Green Label Plus certification on carpets and pads. The CRI worked together with the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Environmental Protection Agency, private labs and universities to establish the standards for this tagging program for both residential and commercial products.

See related