However proper padding will extend the life of your carpet assisting in protection from wear and tear.
Is it bad to not put padding under carpet.
For wall to wall carpeting the pad should not be so.
In fact it might even be worse for your home.
But with padding thicker pad isn t always the best carpet padding.
It s usually pretty simple because most carpets call for 7 16.
In contrast a carpet with a carpet pad under it resulted in a loss of 5 10 during the test.
Thick padding may not be as durable and anything over 8 16 will cause installation problems.
According to the independent textile testing service carpet without a carpet pad under it resulted in a 19 3 loss in thickness after a 150 lb.
Installing quality carpet padding under your new carpet will help it feel softer reduce noise and provide insulation.
However to fit well padding needs to be fitted and placed perfectly on each stair tread so it doesn t slip around under the fabric of the runner.
Padding isn t an absolute necessity and installation can take place without it.
Pads under carpets in high traffic areas should not be so soft that they flatten out when stepped on thereby speeding up wear on the carpet.
A properly padded rug will feel softer on the feet look better to the eye and last longer than a rug with no padding.
Remove any old strips of tackless carpeting glue or tacks that are stuck to the foot treads.
Use a putty knife to scrape off any padding or glue left behind from previous padding installations.
While it s often an afterthought a rug pad is an important part of protecting your flooring and preserving your rug not to mention minimizing the chances of a slip and fall from a loose area rug.
The good news is most retailers know the padding thickness you need.
Carpet tiles with padding are not the norm since plush underlayment can cause problems with installation or cause the tiles to lift.
Weight was rolled over fibers 20 000 times.
It will also help extend the life of your carpet by reducing stress put on the carpet backing and fibers.
However some carpet tiles do come with attached padding and other features that make them appropriate for use over concrete or in children s play areas.
Padding over 7 16 in thickness is not very installation friendly as the smoothedge is only 5 16 high and the carpet can pull back away from the wall causing a loose fitted section.
