Carpet cushion (carpet padding) is the foundation for
every residential
carpet
installation.
Despite what you may be
told, carpet padding plays an important part in the performance
of your new carpet
installation. However, the old adage that if you must choose
between
less expensive carpet and
less expensive carpet padding, choose less expensive carpet is not
true. Carpet selection and
carpet cushion selection must enhance one another. Selecting
either a poor quality carpet
or poor quality carpet cushion ensures a
carpet installation
that
is
destined to disappoint.
Many
retailers buy carpet cushion (carpet padding) in truckload
quantities, so they typically use
one type of
carpet padding or another. They rarely offer several options,
because of quantity
discounts.
Do not allow this to influence your carpet cushion selection
decision. If a particular
retailer
does not offer a particular carpet padding that your prefer, ask if
it can be ordered.
If the
retailer cannot or will not allow substitutions, find a retailer who
will.
Many
consumers believe carpet cushion is used for the purpose of comfort
under foot. While this
a
result of the use of carpet padding, the primary reason for carpet
cushion is to absorb impact
that
the carpet would otherwise be subjected. This impact can cause
synthetic latex to break
down,
backings to stretch, separation of the primary backing from the
secondary backing
(delamination) and unnecessary stress on the face fiber. The best
performing carpet cushion
actually provides less comfort under foot, but extends the life of
the
carpet installation
by
absorbing the abuse.
Two of the
most common mistakes by consumers is to purchase a carpet padding
that is too soft
or too
thick. Carpet cushion that is too soft, bottoms out when exposed to
foot traffic. This allows
the carpet
to assume the rest of the impact burden; thus shortening carpet
performance life.
What
can get confusing is the various methods of rating carpet cushion
performance. Some carpet
padding is rated in
density,
but there are various methods for determining
density.
Terms like
indentation load deflection (ILD), indentation force deflection
(IFD), compression load deflection (CLD),
compression
force deflection (CFD) all may be used to describe the test method
for evaluating
carpet
cushion
density.
Essentially these terms are a method of evaluating how much weight
is
required to bottom the carpet cushion out. Some of these methods
use a square inch as the area
for
evaluation, while others use a broader are such as 6 or 8 square
inches. It is important to note
which
method is used when comparing carpet padding, because an 8 lb.
carpet padding using the
broader area of evaluation may equate to a ½ pound rating for a
square inch measure.
Also, carpet
cushion may be rated in weight per cubic yard. An 8-pound carpet
cushion may weigh
8 pounds in
a standard 3 ft by 3 ft by 3-ft cube. A flat rubber carpet padding
may weigh 22 pounds
per cubic
foot and a prime urethane carpet cushion may weigh only 4 pounds,
but the ultimate
performance
factor is how many pounds per footfall area will it take for the
carpet cushion to bottom
out.
The second
most common mistake is to purchase carpet padding that is too
thick. You may be told
that a
thicker carpet cushion will cause performance problems, but the
primary reason for selecting
thinner
carpet padding is so the carpet is not so high from the floor that
it will not hold on to the tack
strip. The
carpet industry has established a maximum recommended thickness of
7/16 inch, but you
should never
exceed ½ inch. The thought process here is if ½ inch is
recommended, retailers will go
to 5/8
inch. A ½ carpet cushion provides adequate cushion and still allows
the carpet to hold on to
the tack
strip along the walls.
Types of Carpet Padding
Waffle Rubber:
Waffle rubber, like the name implies falls within the ½ inch
recommendation but
because of
its waffle texture, this measurement include air. This is a good
carpet cushion, but in the
past, its
filler percentage was very high and the carpet padding tended to
break down over the years.
When carpet
was replaced this carpet cushion reverted back to its original state
of Georgia clay.
Today’s
waffle carpet padding performs much better than the waffles of the
1970’s and 80’s. Shop
before
deciding on waffle rubber. Get the heaviest carpet cushion you can
find.
Urethane
Foam:
Urethane
foam is available in different densities and thicknesses.
Densities of
these
carpet cushions can be as low as ½ pound per square inch (psi).
Some of these densified prime
urethane carpet padding can be very good performers, but make sure
you know what you are buying.
Don’t
allow anyone to discourage you from purchasing this carpet cushion,
if the
density
is appropriate.
Bonded Urethane carpet cushion:
This carpet cushion is also
called rebond and is the most popular
type
of carpet padding sold today. It is made from reclaimed scrap of
high-density
urethane foam used
in
furniture and automotive manufacturing, which is bonded together to
form carpet cushion.
Rebond
comes
in various thickness and densities. The
density
is rated
as a
function of weight in pounds per cubic foot. For example,
a
5-lb. rebond cushion would weigh 5lb per cubic foot. The
Carpet
Cushion Council recommends a cushion of at least 5lbs
and
3/8-inch thickness for light traffic areas, and 6.5 lbs. and
3/8
inch for heavy traffic areas. These are minimum guidelines
and
keep in mind the
CCC is the
trade voice for the carpet
cushion
(carpet padding) industry. Many carpet manufacturers
recommend a
minimum of 8 pounds per cubic foot.
Flat Rubber carpet cushion:
For the ultimate in luxury
and long wear consider using 19 -22lb
density
flat
rubber carpet cushion. This is the carpet padding that
I
prefer for my own home, but it is extremely
pricey
and
difficult to find.
The average consumer would not
consider this carpet cushion because of
its
cost. However, my 10-year-old
olefin
Berber looks it was
installed last week. While it is recommended that you replace
carpet
cushion with each carpet installation, flat rubber may be
the
only carpet padding that could outlast the carpet and survive
a
second
carpet installation.
Fiber Cushion: This carpet padding is used primarily
to take
advantage of
scrap fiber and promote environmental stewardships. Fiber cushions
made from jute,
or
hair mixed with jute, perform well.
Carpet Pad Pricing
|
Carpet Cushion type |
SKU # |
Price |
Product Image |
|
option 1 |
sku-1 |
100 |
|
|
option 2 |
sku-2 |
200 |
|
|
option 3 |
sku-3 |
300 |
|
For
Carpet Prices on styles you have found in
your local market or for carpet pad pricing,
visit our carpet price quote page for carpet
and carpet pad pricing by email. Our family
sales staff will contact you by phone or email
to provide
carpet prices on styles you request.
Also, Visit our "plunder" section for
Carpet
Specials, special buys,
manufacturer trial runs for even more carpet
savings.
