Types of Carpet Padding and Its Advantages

The padding of a carpet forms the foundation during installation. It plays a very important role in determining the performance of your carpet. Carpet padding is meant to enhance the performance of your carpet. This means that the assertion of an expensive carpet and a less expensive padding will reduce the quality of your floor. Ensure that the padding complements the quality of your carpet.

But why do you need padding for your carpet? Maybe by understanding the value that padding adds to your floor will help you make a better choice on the type of padding to install. Here is a summary look at the benefits of padding on a floor.

1. Gives your floor a softer feel: padding provides the extra layer that will absorb shock and therefore make your floor to feel comfortable and silent as you walk on it. This means that buying a quality pad will make it even softer and more comfortable.
2. Efficient cleaning of the floor: padding allows the vacuum cleaner to raise the carpet slightly and thus remove most of the dirt below or inside the fiber of your carpet. This makes your living area healthier and tidy. Parasites and allergy harboring dirt will not stick on the carpet.
3. Thermal insulation: a pad will keep away draft that may sip through some carpet fibers. The R-value of padding is higher than that of carpets. This means that it will provide better and additional insulation. This will keep your room warmer and also maintain constant temperature whenever the weather hits extremes. With added insulation benefits, your air conditioning bill will go down.
4. Sound absorption: carpets are sometimes not as thick as you would expect. Activity on the surface leaves a room noisy and the people there distracted. With padding, this noise is significantly minimized.

Sellers offer padding as a discount or at a discount to buyers. This is likely to cause you to ignore some of the most important elements that determine the quality of padding. This will affect the overall performance of your carpet and floor. Here are factors you should consider when buying a carpet pad.

1. Density: padding is supposed to provide a cushion for your carpet flooring. The density of padding is easily confused for thickness. Density determines the performance of your pad under pressure. Choose a density that can handle the traffic that will be witnessed on your carpet. Where there is a lot of traffic, you need high density. Where traffic is light, like at home, the medium density may be required to avoid having a hard floor.
2. The material used: carpet pads are made of different materials, each determining the performance of the floor. Foam rubber or urethane foam is a common material. Recycled materials are also used. Read reviews to establish the best padding that will last longer and deliver excellent value for money.
3. Thickness: most carpet sellers require you to have a pad that is 7/16” thick in order to maintain the warranty. However, do not think that a thicker pad is always the best. The thickness must be in such a way that it adds value to your installation. When it is too thick, it will cause your carpet to produce wrinkles. The material or fiber of your carpet will determine the best pad thickness to consider.
4. Water resistance: padding is usually installed below the carpet. Alongside other functions, it is supposed to protect your carpet from damage by water that may arise from the foundation. This means that the padding must also be resistant so that the water does not get to the carpet.

Other factors like the cost must be considered, though it will be determined by material and quantity. Do not be blinded by the fact that the padding cannot be seen. Making a poor choice will result in a poorly performing floor that takes away the beauty and comfort of your house. Here we have mentioned types of Padding for Carpets

Rebond Pad

Rebond pad the most common padding used in residential areas. It is usually multi-colored and made of recycled urethane foam. It comes in multiple densities and thicknesses, providing all the variety you need to give your floor a soft and comfortable feel. There are different grades in the market, depending on manufacturers and based on your budgetary needs. The type of material that was recycled usually determines the grade. The price will determine the grade when all other factors are held constant.

Foam Padding

This is a lightweight pad that is also relatively inexpensive. Whenever you receive free padding with a carpet, this is most likely what you will get. Unfortunately, it loses its density very fast, which could be as soon as a year after installation. This will, however, depend on the level of traffic on the surface of the carpet. It is preferred for areas like apartments where the lifespan of a carpet is relatively low.

Prime Urethane Foam

The urethane used in the manufacture of this pad is not recycled. This is why it is also referred to as virgin foam. This is a perfect choice for installation at home. However, it is designed for installation in commercial properties because of the high-quality standards. Because of the cost, it remains an exclusive padding option.

Synthetic Fiber Pad Or Wood/Fiber Pad

This is common padding for Berber and commercial carpets. They are not spongy yet remain dense and breathe extremely well. They are manufactured using natural wool or shredded fabric. Their density will prevent the carpet from wearing under intense traffic. It is an incredible choice for commercial properties and basements. The price is relatively high.

Rubber Padding

Rubber padding is a common application over a concrete floor for commercial spaces. It is rare and not recommended for residential areas because it lacks the buoyancy you would need for a residential space.

There are other pads regarded as specialty pads because of they for moisture barriers, absorb odors and capture dirt or residues from the carpet, among other elements. The effectiveness of carpet padding will always depend on installation and the type of activities that take place on the surface. Remember that the features you get for your padding will always come at a cost.