How to Grade Carpet Padding

Examine the thickness of the carpet padding. In general, a thicker pad will provide more cushioning and bounce. Thinner padding provides a more stable walking surface. Use your taste and the carpet manufacturer’s recommendations to select the right thickness for you.

Observe what materials the carpet padding is made of. Materials vary widely from natural fibers like jute to the ever-popular polyurethane foam. Jute is good for use under flat, commercial carpets to hold them in place, and polyurethane frothed foam padding can be used for just about any style or thickness of carpet.

Determine whether the carpet padding is for low foot traffic or high foot traffic. For high-traffic areas, look for thick and dense padding such as frothed foam, slab rubber or a 10 lb. density-rated soy-based pad.

Check the carpet padding for its durability. Frothed foam pads made of super dense polyurethane and soy-based memory pads are both touted as extremely durable products. These carpet pads are suitable for use with just about any style carpet.

Consider whether the carpet padding can withstand heavy furniture without leaving indentations. Slab rubber is good for its ability to resist those characteristic pock marks often left behind when heavy furniture is removed

Check to see if your product is GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality Certified. These products boast low volatile organic compounds (VOC) emissions. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), VOCs are emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids and may pose short- and long-term health risks.

Consider all carpet padding factors, and select a pad that best suits the type of carpet you are using as well as the use and function of the area in question. For further assistance, discuss with your carpet salesperson any questions that may still remain.