I’m sure everyone can understand that a house is only as strong as the foundation it is built upon. Well, the same holds true with your carpet. One of the main determining factors in how long your carpet is going to last has to do with the quality of it’s foundation. The “foundation” in this case being the carpet pad. A good quality pad is crucial in order to get the most out of your carpet. You want a carpet pad the provides good support that doesn’t bottom out when you walk on it, yet is soft enough to allow the carpet to give slightly. There are several different types of carpet pad to choose from. In this article, we’ll go over the three main types of carpet pad to help you make a better decision on the right pad for your particular project.
Rebond Foam Pad is probably the most common types of pad installed under carpet today. It is made from ground up pieces of foam that are bonded together with adhesive. It is then shaved down to the desire thickness ranging from 3/8″ to 1/2″ Thick. Rebond Pad is rated in pound density. Typically the pound density rebond pad comes in is 6, 7, 8 or 10 pound. Pound density is the amount the paid would weigh if you took a 1’x1’x1′ cube section of pad. So for a 6lb pad, a 1′ cubed section would weigh 6 pounds. The higher the pound density, the better support you will have under your carpet, helping it last longer. Rebond pad works great for all plush residential carpets and is a great “all around the house” type of pad.
Another popular type of pad is rubber slab pad. Now this is different than the old “waffle” style rubber pad that usually turned to dust after several years. Rubber slab pads today are built to last much longer. They are measured in ounce weights with the common weights being 75, 90, 105 and 110oz. Rubber Slab pad is the highest quality pad you can put under your carpet. They work excellent under any type of residential carpets, both loop and plush carpet and they will add years of life to your carpet. Another benefit of rubber pad is its resistance to moisture. Rubber pad, unlike rebond pad, won’t act as a sponge and suck up any spills, pet accidents, or just moisture from a concrete floor.
The third type of pad is made from felt. It also measured in ounces with the most common weights being 24, 32 and 40 ounces. Felt pads, due to their durability and firmness are generally used under commercial carpet and/or in commercial application where a pad is needed. The firmness of felt pad generally makes it the least popular of these three types of pad for residential applications. Felt pad generally comes in thicknesses between 1/4″ and 3/8″ thick
Regardless of the carpet you decide on, it’s very important to choose a high quality pad to go under it. This is the biggest impact you can do as far as helping your carpet last as long as possible. Carpet pad truly is the foundation of your carpet and just like your house, you want to make sure your foundation is as strong as possible.
