Week 12: Carpet Padding

 Carpet padding is an important detail to flooring because it can help carpets and rugs last longer, protect the flooring underneath, and even make it more comfortable to walk on.  There is carpet padding and carpet cushions.  They are similar but different in their materials and usage.  Pads are more of the felt options.  The three major cushion categories are fibrous cushions, rubber and latex, and foam cushions.

Fibrous cushions are made from natural fibers and are needle punched into the padding.  The most prominent fibers used is hair and jute.  This is an inexpensive option, but they do not last the longest.  Since they are made from natural fibers they age and crumble more quickly than a manufactured cushion.

Syntex™ from Leggett & Platt Flooring Products - L&P Flooring Products

Rubber and latex cushions are the most flexible option out of the three.  They can made out of natural rubber or from synthetic polymer.  This is not the largest part of the market though because of how many people are allergic to latex.  Rubber pads can also be made differently.  A sponge rubber is a firmer kind of rubber cushion.  It is flat and smooth.  The waffle rubber cushion has different chemicals added to it making it expand into a three-dimensional form.  It gives a softer feel, are compressible, and give off the plushness that many house owners want inside.

Berber Supreme - 90 oz - Commercial Hospitality Mills, LLCCommercial Hospitality Mills, LLC

Foam cushions have three categories within itself, and they are prime, mechanically frothed, and bonded.  Prime foam cushions are what is used in upholstered furniture, except it is thinner for flooring.  Prime is manufactured in a way that it meets all of the requirements for a flooring pad.  The frothed foam is a denser, firmer foam.  This foam padding is common on the market because of how durable they are and can be used with any carpet.  The last foam is a bonded foam.  It is manufactured using recycled pieces of foam.  Netting is added to the back to help keep all of the individual pieces of foam together.  

Carpet Pad, 1/2-inch Super Magic 6# Rebond (Green) - Flooring Underlay - The Home Improvement Outlet

Rebond padding talkings about buying it with a 6 oz or 8 oz rebound and that is referring to the density of the padding by weight per square yard.  The higher the weight the more dense and durable it will be.  It can range higher than 8 oz, but 6 to 8 ounces is the ideal rebound.

 Knowing your carpet cushions is important, but it can ruin a great carpet or it can help a cheap carpet last longer.  As interior designers we need to know all the details and how it can affect the space we are working in.


https://www.carpetcaptain.com/carpet-buying-guide/best-carpet-padding/

Textiles for Residential and Commercial Interiors 5th edition

Comments

  1. INT323-2021November 7, 2021 at 6:46 PM

    Very good citations and references. The visual examples are very informative!

    ReplyDelete

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