 | Aaron McPeak has over 11 years of experience in the floor covering industry, holding various positions including sales, operations, marketing and advertising, installation, and leadership. Other significant experience was with the U-haul Company where he spent 10 years ending as the district manager for Kansas. He is degreed from Friends University in business management and is currently attending Wichita State’s EMBA program. He can be reached at amcpeak@starlumber.com or at 316-941-1753. |
Carpet, Tile & Floor Covering
2007-04-01 09:49:00
Carpet pads...a must!
ANSWER: A general recommendation is always to install a padding (cushion) under every rug.
The main practical purpose of cushion is to absorb the impact of foot traffic which extends the life of the carpet. The main aesthetic purpose of padding is to provide a cushion under the carpet and increase the level of comfort. Other benefits include sound absorption and to a small degree, thermal protection.
There is different cushion appropriate for different carpeting and usually a very wide selection. It comes in various densities and thickness and consequently varies significantly in cost. Different combinations of thickness and density determine the resiliency of the cushion. Carpet cushion resiliency is an important aspect. As a person takes each step across a carpet, this creates many pounds per square inch of pressure to your floor covering. Carpet padding will help to reduce that extreme pressure, thus allowing your carpet to appear more luxurious and feel softer and thicker. In effect, the cushion is taking some of the damaging effects of the impact as opposed to the carpet taking it all. Have you ever seen a carpet that appears "ugly" before it has become worn out? This is called "pile crushing" and it happens particularly in hallways where everyone walks. If you will install a quality carpet cushion, it will decrease this type of damage in those heavily trafficked areas as the higher quality cushions will absorb more of the impact. Your carpet will be able to maintain the proper height of its pile and will look new much longer.
Carpet cushion will also help to keep your carpet cleaner. As dirt gets into a carpet fiber, the continual traffic upon it will cause the dirt to grind away at the fiber similar to the way sandpaper grinds down wood. This will shorten the carpet's life. Since a quality carpet cushion raises the carpet up from the subfloor, air space is provided underneath so that the carpet can breathe easier. As you vacuum, the air carries the dirt up through the carpet. This is why it makes for more efficient cleaning.
There are studies which show that a quality carpet cushion can increase a carpet's useful life by 50%. Most carpet manufacturers require a quality cushion under new carpeting as a condition of its warranty. This cushion must meet certain industry and government standards. For instance, a traditional style of carpet would require a cushion that is resilient and firm and is a maximum of 7/16" thick with a 6 pound density (the weight of a cubic foot of the product). On the other hand, cushion for loop pile berber carpeting should be 3/8" thick pad and a density of 8 pounds per cubic foot. Thinner carpets don’t perform as well over thicker pads so warranty requirements are different. Carpet cushions are made from various natural and synthetic fibers such as foam, fiber, polyurethane, or rubber. The best cushions will have small perforations that allow for air to flow through it. A quality carpet cushion will cost about $5.00-$7.00 per yard but is well worth the investment.
While you might rather not invest in a carpet cushion that you will never see, you will definitely be able to feel it, and it will make a big difference in the wearability of your new carpet. Actually, I will go so far as to say that a carpet cushion is the key to the successful purchase of new carpeting. Make sure you ask a flooring professional for details about what cushion should go under your carpet choice to maximize its performance. Hope this helps.
