What Is Carpet Pad Thickness

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What is carpet pad thickness.

Carpet padding can come in thicknesses anywhere from under 1 4 up to 1 2. Padding that is too thick or thin can cause the carpet to wrinkle buckle separate and wear prematurely. Thick padding may not be as durable and anything over 8 16 will cause installation problems. Thick padding is generally not only not worth it but may result in buckling worn or splitting carpet.

If you choose a low pile carpet which includes berber loop pattern carpet and commercial varieties the carpet pad thickness should be 3 8 inch or less. For example a good quality rebond padding 1 4 to 3 8 thickness and a density of at least 8 pounds. That s because the thick carpet pad has too much give for a short pile carpet. Widely looped carpets like berber do not react well to thick carpet padding.

In some instances improper pad thickness voids the carpet s warranty. Some prefer a rubber pad or a synthetic fiber or wool pad for basements. In fact it might even be worse for your home. It s usually pretty simple because most carpets call for 7 16.

In higher traffic areas such as hallways and stairwells it is usually recommend by the carpet manufacturer that you use thin dense carpet padding no thicker than 3 8. Cut pile residential carpet such as those with textures and twists should have padding with a thickness of 1 2 inch or less. For this reason you ll want a thinner carpet pad. The exception to 7 16 inch as the ideal thickness is short pile and berber carpeting.

Selecting the right carpet pile density. Although carpet padding is responsible for a lot more than comfort the average person walking across his living room may imagine that thicker is better. The good news is most retailers know the padding thickness you need. Together they are key factors in your carpet s look and feel and they also influence its resilience and durability.

The density of the carpet pad foam is another factor to consider. Don t choose a carpet pad that s too thick or you risk unsightly folds and wrinkles developing in and beneath. But with padding thicker pad isn t always the best carpet padding. How to choose the right carpet pad.

A thick pad can actually damage thin carpet types such as berber. Get to know the basics below to decide which options are best for your home and lifestyle. Padding more than 1 2 inch thick causes installation problems and is often not durable. Carpet density is basically a combination of height and thickness.

Berber styles require a special padding that is more dense with a lower profile.