How to Choose Carpet Padding

Carpet padding selection

Carpet padding is the layer of floor covering that gives additional comfort and protection to a carpeted floor. Carpet pad is made of urethane, sponge rubber or synthetic fiber. Carpet salespeople and installers may refer alternately to carpet padding, carpet cushion or the carpet pad. Regardless of the name, check the details of your floor space before you shop.

Things You'll Need

• Carpet specifications
• Room measurements

Instructions

1. Establish the carpet padding thickness required. Each type of carpet comes with recommendations from the manufacturer for the under layer of floor padding.

2. Identify the type of sub-floor upon which the carpet will be installed. Clarify whether concrete sub-floors are slab on grade, which could require thicker moisture-resistant backed carpet padding.

3. Determine whether radiant floor heating is embedded in the floor. Select carpet padding with a lower "R" value so that it is less resistant to heat rising up through the floor covering.

4. Verify the warranty offered on the carpet padding. Look for a lifetime warranty and evaluate the definition of "lifetime".

5. Choose carpet cushion with higher density for rooms where there will be a greater volume of traffic. Select lower density carpet padding for floor space that will have less traffic.

6. Purchase the same yardage of carpet pad as the actual carpet so that the floor space is completely cushioned.

Tips & Warnings

• Choose a carpet pad made of sponge rubber or fiber to accommodate radiant floor heating.

Resources

• Selecting the Right Cushion
• Carpet and Pad with Radiant Floors