How to Buy Carpet Pad

Although hidden from view under your carpet, buying carpet pad is an important decision. If a salesperson tries to get you to spend a little more on pad, don't assume that it's an unnecessary upgrade. Getting high-quality pad increases the life of your expensive carpet. It also makes carpet more comfortable to walk on, provides cushioning for small children to play on, reduces noise and helps insulate your home.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Compare pad materials and benefits. The vast majority of residential pad is made from polyurethane foam. This type of pad is called re-bond because it is made of pieces of recycled foam bonded together and has a multi-color appearance. Other types of pad are made from carpet fibers, felt, rubber or urethane.

2. Choose the proper thickness and density. Commercial, loop and low-pile carpet perform better with a thinner, denser pad. For cut pile, found in many homes, use pad no thicker than 1/2 inch but with a density of at least 5 lb. More dense pads are even better for cut pile.

3. Select a pad with a moisture barrier if you have pets that like to urinate on the carpet. The moisture barrier is also logical for a family with young kids who are more likely to spill on the carpet. Fluids cannot penetrate into the pad causing stains to re-emerge or odors to linger.

Tips & Warnings

• Replace pad when replacing carpet. Pad breaks down over time and absorbs odors that are not good for your brand new carpet investment.
• Using pad that is too thick causes wrinkling in the carpet and then the carpet needs to be re-stretched. It can also put stress on the carpet seams and the seams will start to separate.