Carpet Cushion Adds Comfort, Life to Carpet

Want More From Your Carpet? Upgrade Your Carpet Cushion: Better Carpet Cushion Makes for More Comfort, Life for Your New Carpet

Often, when a new acquaintance finds out I live in Dalton, Georgia (where most U.S. carpet is manufactured) they will ask for a tip about how to choose carpet for their home.  Invariably, I tell them that the thing that will have the biggest impact on how they enjoy their carpet is what kind of cushion they choose to go under it.

The truth is, once you choose a carpet, you are only partly done with your carpet purchase. You also need to think about carpet cushion.

FabulousFloors magazine ran a rather fabulous article about shopping for cushion that pointed out that carpet cushion serves two purposes: first, it makes your carpet feel better and stay beautiful longer. Second, it extends the life of the carpet and makes it easier to keep clean.

“…it is cushion, far more than your carpet, which determines how your carpet and rugs will feel when you walk on them. Plus, the correct cushion helps maintain your carpet’s original appearance over the long haul. (It also increases air flow between your floor and carpet or rugs for better, more efficient vacuuming.)

Cushion functions as a shock absorber, taking the pounding of everyday foot traffic. This helps your carpet feel better, look better and last longer. While technological advancements have brought us to a point where carpet these days rarely wears out, cushion’s job is to help prevent carpet from what is called “uglying out;” that is, losing its shape and resiliency. Put another way, the right cushion will help your carpet look and feel younger for a long time.

Better-quality cushion also provides features which run-of-the-mill padding never dreamed of, like blocking moisture and fighting odors from spills, plus providing thermal and sound insulation between floors.

In terms of comfort, which comes first, your cushion selection is largely a matter of personal preference; for example softer, more luxurious cushion in the living room and master bedroom or a firmer feel in a family or child’s room. However, conferring with a specialty flooring retailer will help you match the correct cushion to your carpet. Selecting the wrong cushion might actually void your warranty. You can’t go wrong if you buy the best for the life of your carpet.

Ultimately, you should base your decision on four things. Have your retailer explain personal comfort, performance that’s matched to your carpet, functionality for your lifestyle needs and, of course, a warranty that’s just right for you.”

Today, you can find carpet cushion with a number of options for waterresistance; some with the strength and resilience of memory foam, and some thatoffer antimicrobial protection. And in a wonderful promotion, Carpet and Rug Institute member manufacturer Mohawk will make a donation to the Susan G. Komen Decorate for the Cure partnership to fund breast cancer research. 

I found one more cushion reference worth including here. It’s from an article called, “3 Vital Reasons to Research Carpet Padding Before You Buy” from The Carpet BuyersHandbook website that lists three reasons why your cushion choice is so important:  


1. You could ruin your carpet by choosing the wrong carpet cushion.

Out of sight should not be out of mind in the world of carpet padding. Put thick cushion in a high traffic area and you'll quickly find it's too soft to stand up to the wear and tear. Place a cushion that's too thin on a rough subfloor and prepare to see the imperfections come through. This is one time when taking the salesperson's word could end up being a costly mistake.

So, what can you do? Start by checking out the manufacturer's recommendations for your carpet. Next, consider where you are placing the carpet--guest bedroom or main hallway. Be extra cautious if you have radiant heating. For a little guidance, log on to Carpet Cushion Council's residential guidelines.

2. You could make your home more energy efficient by using carpet cushion.

With all the talk about weatherizing homes and energy efficiency, it's surprising more hasn't been made of the benefits that come from carpet and cushion.

A carpet cushion's insulating properties vary depending on the kind of material. For example, the insulating properties of bonded polyurethane are twice that of textured flat rubber. The Carpet Cushion Council has a handy chart of R-values (a measure of thermal resistance) for common types of padding. This is excellent information to have if you're trying to warm up a finished basement floor or maximize the heat from your radiant floors.

3. You could be helping the environment with your carpet cushion.

Some people don't like the thought of expending any more resources than absolutely necessary. If that sounds like you, then there's a lot to love about carpet cushion. Much of the cushion used in the United States is recycled. You can find recycled or reclaimed padding that is polyurethane (foam), rubber, and fiber. If you are concerned about the off-gassing of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), the Environmental Protection Agency recommends looking for cushion with the CRI Green Label. Check out the Carpet and Rug Industry's Web site for more information about the Green Label. (for more information, there’s also the website for the Carpet Cushion Council – bmr.)

There's lots to be said about carpet cushion and how it adds comfort and life to carpet, don't you think? What would you add?

~Bethany