Did you know that carpet padding matters to your wall-to-wall carpet installation? It’s literally the foundation of your carpet system and ensures that it performs for you over time.
Think of carpet as a performance textile for the floor; it needs to respond well to foot traffic while looking beautiful in your home. The cushion or padding underneath adds comfort and, just as important, contributes stability, insulation, and noise reduction. A quality cushion can extend the life of your carpet. For that reason, it’s important to select the best cushion for your carpet purchase given how you’ll be using the carpet.
The Importance of Carpet Padding
Carpet pads can make or break the comfort and durability of your carpet. Let’s explore how in more detail.
How Carpet Cushion Benefits You and Your Carpet
1 – Improved comfort underfoot
Carpet pad adds softness and cushion to the carpet so it better supports foot traffic. Think of the cushion as a shock absorber. Not only does it support each step you take but it also helps prevent premature wear and tear on your carpet, ensuring your investment lasts longer.
Depending on where you install the carpet, you’ll want to select a different level of pad thickness. A staircase, for example, calls for a thinner cushion than a wall-to-wall carpet does.
2 – Noise Reduction
In addition to cushioning steps, carpet padding absorbs sound and makes for a quieter household.
3 – Greater Energy Efficiency
Carpet and its padding can contribute to energy savings. Providing an extra layer of insulation helps retain warmth in your space during the colder months, reducing the need for additional heating.
4 – Health and Safety
With the right quality pad, carpet padding can promote a healthier and safer living environment because it acts as a barrier against dust, allergens, and mold, providing cleaner indoor air quality. Additionally, it offers slip resistance, making your floors less prone to accidents – a must-have feature for households with kids or elderly family members, not to mention pets.
How to Choose the Right Carpet Padding
Selecting the right carpet padding is crucial for maximizing the lifespan of your carpet. The choice depends on several factors:
- The density of the carpet cushion and what foot traffic your home experiences
- How thick the carpet pad is and where your carpet will go
- The cost of your carpet padding options
As you start to explore your carpet options, be sure to discuss padding with your sales representative who will be able to guide you so you don’t wind up with a pad that is too squooshy, for example, leading to a sloppy feel underfoot and premature wear patterns.
What Are Your Carpet Pad Options?
You’ll find different types of carpet padding available. Many will include moisture barriers to help control unwanted spills.
Memory Foam Carpet Cushion
Memory foam carpet cushion combines frothed foam with gel to give it that delicious supportive sinking feeling underfoot. Below you see images of Healthier Choice high-density memory foam pad in two weights. The top green is the heaviest weight and the blue is a medium weight.
Rubber Carpet Pad
You’ll also find rubber slab pad. Two examples you see below are a 90 oz Rubber Slab Pad in green and a 75 oz brown pad.
Felt Cushion Carpet Pad
Felt padding in either synthetic or wool fiber is ideal for an installation that requires a thin, firm cushion such as a staircase. It is extremely dense and is made from recycled or shredded fabric or natural wool.
The first example below is of a synthetic felt pad in a standard 32 oz option.
Next, you see a felted wool pad generally available in several oz weights.
For an area rug, stair treads, or for runners, you’ll want to consider a felt pad with a rubber backing such as this example of a synthetic carpet pad.
Rebond Carpet Padding
Rebond Cushion is made from recycled foam, which gives it a multicolored appearance. This kind of pad is less expensive and not as long-lasting as the slab styles of pad or felt.
Below, you see a foam pad by Blue Haven Plus. This has a density of 8 lbs, with a 7/16″ SpillSafe moisture barrier.
Carpet Padding at Classique Floors + Tile
At Classique Floors + Tile, we recommend several carpet pads as detailed above, including the memory foam carpet cushion called Healthier Choice for most wall-to-wall carpet installations. Healthier Choice is available in two thicknesses: blue/medium and green. It’s very comfortable underfoot and is great for concrete subfloor as it is vapor permeable, and offers a moisture barrier with low toxicity.
Child & Pet Proof
Hydra-Skin is a high-performance feature unique to Healthier Choice Cusion; it is the only film-less, breathable moisture barrier, which stops liquid spills from penetrating into the cushion while allowing moisture vapor trapped underneath to evaporate and escape
Mold and Mildew Protection
Healthier Choice Cushion is infused with Ultra-Fresh Anti-Micorobial Protection to inhibit the growth of harmful odors causing mold, mildew, and bacteria. It provides permanent protection.
No Odor – Low VOCs
Healthier Choice is the only carpet cushion that is UL GREENGUARD Gold Certified for low chemical emissions. Breathing high levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is linked to health problems including allergies and asthma. Our product is also CRI GREEN LABEL Plus Certified.
Environmentally Friendly
Made in part with soybean oil and other natural resources, which reduces the consumption of fossil fuel petrochemicals while supporting sustainable agriculture.
How To Maintain and Clean Your Carpet Padding
Regular carpet maintenance and cleaning are essential for prolonging the life of your carpet padding and carpet system. You’ll want to vacuum your carpet regularly, and quickly do spot cleaning and stain removal.
We strongly recommend welcome mats at any entrance to the outdoors to capture grit and dirt that can harm your carpeted floors.
Indoors, you should consider using carpet protectors, and regularly rotating furniture.
Ready to Select Your Carpet Padding?
As you consider your next carpet, you’ll want to select the right carpet padding to offer unmatched support, comfort, and other benefits to you and your carpet. You’ll find that Classique Floors + Tile offers a wide selection of top-notch carpet padding options, ensuring you find the perfect match for your needs.
Come tour the Classique Showroom. We look forward to helping you and answering any questions you have.
Thanks for reading!