The Importance of Carpet Padding

Carpet padding, or underlay,is one of the most often overlooked part of a carpeting project, because it’s not visible. However, it’s one of the most important aspects of your carpeting installation as it serves as the foundation of your carpet. Carpet padding is meant to protect your carpeting. It is typically made from rubber, foam or fiber. It keeps the bottom of your carpet from rubbing and tearing against the bare floor. It also helps by absorbing the impact of foot traffic and heavy furniture. Carpet padding is responsible for the softness or firmness of your carpet. When you have padding under your carpet, your vacuum is able to raise it slightly and remove more dirt, making the cleaning process more efficient. Without carpet padding, dirt and dust get stuck in the tufts of your carpet, increasing allergens and creating a dirty environment. Carpet pads also provide thermal installation. Porous carpeting will create drafts, whereas padded carpets block the draft. It also is able to keep heat from passing through it. So it keeps your room at a more stable temperature. Carpet padding also acts to dampen sound. This is an especially pertinent feature in upstairs rooms. A pad stops the drafts that can seep through porous carpeting. Padding has higher R value (which measures a material’s ability to keep heat from passing through it) than carpet which keeps the room warmer. Carpet padding also helps dampen sound. This is especially more important for upstairs rooms, but even in a basement, a pad reduces sound more than just a carpet by itself. The main aspects of carpet pads are density and thickness. A thicker pad provides more protection, but it can also wrinkle your carpet. The higher the density, the more firm your carpet will feel. However low density pads wear out faster. If you have any questions about carpet padding, reach out to Naffco today!