If you are installing a new carpet in your place, we would recommend getting carpet padding. Are you convinced? If not, read on to learn about the benefits of carpet padding for both your carpet and floor. Carpet padding, underlay, or carpet cushion is the same thing. They refer to an additional layer between the carpet and the floor that provides many functional benefits.
Importance and Benefits Of Carpet Padding In Modern Lifestyle
From making your carpet look good to keeping it comfortable, padding will do anything and everything. Let us discuss why padding is essential for your carpets and floors.
Homeowners do not realize the impact of underlay padding on their everyday lives. In addition to enhancing the underfoot comfort, cushioning provides several other benefits. The right underlay can increase the performance of your carpet and prolong its life. Here’s how investing in a good quality underlay can benefit you in the long run.
Softer Feel
Adding an extra layer of comfort can improve your experience of walking barefoot on the carpet. The right underlay will make your rugs more comfortable and softer to touch. Besides that, it will also provide excellent cushioning for people with joint pain. Adding an underlay can reduce foot fatigue, especially in areas where you have to stand for extended hours. A quality underlay will absorb the impact when walking to prevent discomfort for your feet.
Durability
With time, carpets experience a lot of wear and tear, which is a normal thing. But you can slow down its deterioration by adding a high-quality underlay. Taxtile floor padding can make your soft flooring more resilient so that it can endure heavier foot traffic. Without an underlay, your carpet is prone to experiencing premature matting and flattening. Using an underlay will enhance the functionality of your carpet and prolong its performance.
Noise Reduction
Padding can also significantly reduce noise in your space. A backing layer will improve the sound absorption of your carpet and reduce the noise of footsteps. Footstep pounding is common on hard and soft floors with an underlay. Various types of padding help with sound insulation to create a peaceful atmosphere.
Insulation
If you are looking for something that pairs well with underfloor heating, buy a carpet with an underlay. Carpet paddings improve temperature control, preventing outside temperature from affecting the indoor environment. The extra layer between the carpet and the subfloor can stop the heat loss or air conditioning through the floor.
Ease Of Cleaning
Vacuuming textile flooring regularly is important for its longevity and your hygiene. Soft underlay padding improves the airflow under and through the carpet, which makes vacuuming easier. Since vacuuming plays a vital role in the performance and durability of your floor carpet, it is critical to do it properly. An underlay will make this task effective and efficient for you. The circulation of air beneath will let the vacuum suck out the dirt completely. This will up your vacuuming game and ultimately make your flooring last you for a long time.
Floor Protection
Besides all the benefits, an underlay is also great for your subfloors. The underlays work as an additional layer of protection between your carpet and the floor. This moisture barrier prevents the floor from damage and wear & tear. Whether it’s foot traffic or liquid spills, the underlay will absorb everything. Nothing damaging will be able to reach your subfloor and blemish its appearance or stability.
Most Recommended Carpet Padding Materials
Here is a list of carpet underlay materials that provide maximum benefits in terms of functionality and comfort.
Rubber Underlay
Rubber padding is a very durable choice because of its comfort and thermal insulation. It is an excellent shock absorber and can also prevent moisture and liquid spills from seeping through the carpet. Waffle rubber and flat sponge rubber are two common types of rubber underlays.
Waffle underlays are popular for residential uses because of their incredible comfort under foot. This underlay gives a luxurious feel when you walk on it. Whereas flat sponge underlay is mostly used for commercial purposes because of its high density. It’s not as plush as waffle rubber but has a dense composition, which is great for rough use.
Memory Foam Underlay
Memory foam provides amazing soft feel underfoot and offers more give in residential spaces. These memory foam pads are not recommended for commercial uses or heavy traffic areas because of their softness. Even though it feels incredible, it can wear out more quickly than other alternatives after some use.
Rebonded Foam Underlay
Rebonded foam underlays come in a variety of thickness options to provide versatile uses. In terms of value and durability, these high-quality paddings are an excellent choice. From bedrooms to playrooms, the rebonded foam pads will provide the ideal level of comfort. Their soft feeling underfoot is recommended for residential spaces. But in heavy foot traffic or commercial spaces, rebond cushions are not a good choice.
Prime Foam Underlay
The underlay made from prime foam has denser padding than rebonded foam. Despite being firm to impact, it features air pockets that make it comfortable underfoot. This padding is also available in a wide range of thickness and density options. You can select the foam underlays based on the intended use because most foam underlays are not ideal for busy areas.
Fiber Underlay
Fiber paddings are made from a variety of sustainable materials, including nylon and polyester. They are much flatter and denser compared to other paddings. But the durability offered by these underlays is unmatched. When it comes to high-traffic areas, there is no better padding option than fiber underlays. Felt is another type of fiber underlay, and it offers amazing longevity and performance. If you are installing a berber carpet, a felt underlay is the perfect padding. Some manufacturers even make it a requirement to install a fiber underlay for carpet warranty.
Thin OR Thick – Which Underlay Thickness Is Ideal?
When it comes to choosing the right underlay thickness, you have to be very careful. The thickness of an underlay can make or break your soft flooring. In some cases, soft and plush underlays are a popular choice.
Areas like bedrooms and living rooms require underfoot comfort. The recommended padding height for bedrooms is 12mm or more for higher comfort. Whereas spaces like stairs, office, or commercial areas require durability. Dense and thin underlays are recommended for commercial carpeting. Although dense padding is not as comfortable, it can endure rough use and heavy traffic. But in the commercial areas, you must think about durability and performance.
Stairs are one of the places where an underlay is a must, but it must be chosen wisely. 11mm or less thickness for a stair underlay is adequate. It will provide a combination of comfort and safety on stair treads.
In Conclusion
Carpet padding does not seem like an expensive investment when you think about its benefits. Besides working as an additional layer for comfort, it also secures your carpet and helps it perform better. A comfortable rug that also looks beautiful can be an integral part of your home. No matter where you are installing the carpet, make sure to throw in an underlay beneath. If you are looking for a high-quality carpet underlay in the UAE, reach out to our team.
