To upgrade the carpet pad, or to not upgrade the carpet pad, that is the question!
Shakespeare may not have asked that question but if you’re in the market for new carpet, I’m sure you have.
There are many different carpet pad brands and materials that tend to leave most people confused after researching this question. At CarpetNow, we’re committed to keeping things simple. We’ll break it down with three padding options and real-world examples to help you make the best, most informed decision for your carpet investment.
Here is what we will cover in this carpet pad guide.
The Top 3 Reasons People Upgrade Their Carpet Pad:
1. Stains
2. Comfort
3. Durability
The Top 3 Carpet Padding Options:
1. Standard Pad
2. Moisture Barrier Pad
3. Memory Form Pad.
The Top 3 Reasons People Upgrade Their Carpet Pad:
Stains:
Did you know that most stains in your carpet are a result of stains in the padding?
Have you ever seen a carpet stain professionally cleaned only to re-appear a few weeks later?
Believe it or not, that is not the carpets fault… that is the padding!
See what happened was… the stain that initially spilled onto the carpet, seeped into the carpet, went past the backing and INTO the carpet pad. So no matter how many times you clean the carpet, if the stain is still in the padding, it will soak back up into the carpet again and again. The point being, even the most stain resistant carpet in the world can have seemingly un-cleanable stains if the padding underneath is retaining the stain as well.
So how do you stop this from happening?
The solution is to install a padding with an upgraded moisture barrier.
So what exactly is a moisture barrier? Its a layer of plastic that
Comfort:
Did you know that pad accounts for 70% of the comfort you feel when walking on carpet? While choosing a high-quality carpet is still a priority, you should never overlook the difference a good pad can make. The worst mistake would be investing in a medium- or high-grade carpet and pairing it with standard padding. That would be like attending a black-tie wedding in a tuxedo and flip-flops—they each have their place, but not together.
So why are some pads more comfortable than others? What exactly is the difference?
Well, for starters, the quality of padding material and the density rating of the padding. Basic pads are using a lesser quality foam that crushes underfoot very quickly. This leads to people saying things like ‘When I walk on this carpet, why does it feel like there is no padding?’
While there is padding underneath the carpet, its crushed down immediately and therefore leaves your mind thinking that because the carpet has no bounce, it must not have a pad underneath.
On the other hand, if you have a higher quality pad made from a higher quality foam, the carpet has more strength and does not crush underfoot. This way when you walk on the carpet and pad, you actually feel the padding pushing back on your feet. This feeling of bounce or cloud-like feeling is where comfort is found.
One way to gauge the strength, comfort and quality a carpet padding is to look at the density of the pad rating.
Here is a quick guide:
| Padding Description | Density Rating |
|---|---|
| Standard | 6 lb |
| Upgraded | 7-8 lb |
| Premium | 10 lb |
Durability:
Did you know that a higher quality pad will add to the carpet’s durability and allow for a longer lifespan?
To give insight and answer that question, I have to link two things together: Pad density and carpet backing.
In the previous paragraph, we discussed how the density rating helps measure the quality of padding for comfort. That same density rating also impacts durability—the higher the density, the less compression occurs underfoot, and the more supportive pushback the padding provides.
So what is carpet backing?
Carpet backing is the material underneath the carpet fibers that is holding everything together.
Furthermore, I like to say that backing of the carpet is like the spine of a book. If that breaks down, everything falls apart.
What causes this breakdown? Excessive movement. Low-density pads, or “standard” pads, allow the carpet to shift and flex more with each step, which strains the backing over time. High-density pads, on the other hand, resist movement by pushing back, keeping the carpet more stable.
In the carpet industry, we call this “Dimensional Stability.” The less movement there is, the less the carpet’s backing gets stretched, and the longer your carpet will last!
The Top 3 Carpet Padding Options:
Standard Padding:
Most standard pads are recycled foam and have a 6lb density rating.
Perfect For: Short Term use (i.e. replacing carpet right before moving out of the home)
Moisture Barrier Padding:
A padding made from higher quality recycled foam, a higher density rating of 7 -8lbs and a plastic ‘moisture barrier’ that stops stains from being absorbed by the padding.
Perfect For: Anyone staying in their home 6 months, stain resistance and increased carpet durability.
Memory Foam Padding:
The highest of pad materials typically using VOC Free, high quality foam with a lifetime anti-crush warranty and moisture barrier resistance built in.
Perfect For: Anyone wanting the best pad money can buy to give you maximum comfort, maximum durability, stain resistance, and the biggest wow-factor you could ask for when your friends walk on your new carpet & padding.
CarpetNow Pad Pricing Guide:
| Padding Description | Density Rating | Pricing per SQFT |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | 6 lb | Free |
| Upgraded Moisture Barrier | 7-8 lb | $0.50 |
| Premium Memory Foam | 8-10 lb | $0.99 |
Common FAQ about: Carpet Padding:
When is standard padding a good option?
We recommend using a standard pad when you replacing carpet right before moving out of your home. Realtors will agree that new entry-level carpet with basic pad keeps you in budget and a high ROI. Standard padding is great for this scenario.
When should I upgrade my pad?
If you are planning to live in your home 6 months or longer, you should always upgrade your pad. You’ll receive all the benefits of stain cleaning, durability and comfort.
What if upgrading my padding breaks my budget?
Downgrade your carpet selection to accommodate your upgraded padding selection. You heard us right, we believe in padding so much that we recommend spending on less on carpet and more on pad to make sure you get the best return on investment possible with your carpet purchase.
For example, I had a client recently tell me they could only afford to spend $4 per SQFT. I told her it would be best to select a $3.00 carpet and a $1.00 per SQFT memory foam pad.
Do upgraded pads help with sound?
Yes, memory foam pads definitely do! We see the biggest impact when someone has a two story home with kids upstairs. The memory foam padding will greatly decrease the sound transfer from the upstairs to the downstairs areas. To be clear, it does not make it soundproof but it will make a major and noticeable audible difference.
Conclusion:
If you’re reading this post, chances are you plan to stay in your home for more than six months and want to make the best choice for your carpet investment. My personal recommendation is to select your padding first, then choose your carpet. This way, you stay within budget while maximizing the value of your carpet purchase. As I mentioned earlier, if budget is a concern, it’s better to downgrade your carpet and upgrade your pad than to spend your entire budget on carpet and settle for the standard pad.
Want to learn more?
Here is a video we made discussing the top three pad options in more detail.
