Rugs, Carpets and Carpeting - pad for basement floor...6# or 8#

Getting ready to carpet our basement. We found the carpet we like but I cannot decide on the pad. The carpet place (Show Me Carpet) says that a 6# pad will be sufficient and that he would NOT recommend an 8# pad.

We brought some carpet and pad samples home, and I really liked the feel of the 8# pad. Is there any reason that an 8# pad would actually be worse for the carpet? Why would the carpet place be so strong in their reccomendations against the 8# pad? The carpet we want to use is a plush-type carpet.

Thanks!

I'm sorry no one has answered you sooner, Preston. It may be because you left a lot of questions. Cushion is made from many different materials and is categorized in several different ways. Six and 8# pad could be a couple of different types of pad and several different thicknesses, all of which would determine the advice and cautions you might receive here.

Let me just assume you are speaking of what we call "rebond pad", which is bonded prime urethane cushion. It looks like it is made up of small chips of different colored foam. This is a very common pad used under residential carpet. It comes in thicknesses ranging from 1/4" (rare) to 9/16". The most sold sizes are 3/8", 7/16" and 1/2".

With this type of cushion, anything over 7/16" will void the warranty of your carpet and anything less dense than 6# will void the warranty. So, 7/16", 6# pad is the bare minimum for a cut pile residential carpet. If you are using it under a berber carpet, or any looped pile construction, 7/16" is too thick and it's recommended you use 3/8" maximum thickness.

I think 6# density is still too squishy. A too thick and/or too soft cushion can cause or contribute to all kinds of problems, like delamination, wrinkles, split seams, etc. You should try to place a cushion sample under a large carpet sample to see what feels good for you. Try the 7 and 8# pad samples. If the carpet is very dense and short, the 8# may feel a bit too firm. If the carpet is a loose piled thicker carpet, 7# may feel too soft.

As for the recommendations of your salesperson, I can only guess. Maybe they don't have the technical knowledge to properly recommend a cushion and are only going with what's in stock, has the highest commission or what the boss told them to sell. Maybe they are recommending what they like rather than what might be most suitable for your particular situation. Or maybe they are just misinformed. I don't know. What I do know is that the cushion under your carpet is just as important a consideration as the carpet itself and the installation methods. If your salesperson is not knowledgeable in all aspects of your floorcovering needs, you should find another dealer.

Good luck and enjoy your new floors.

The wife has had me in garage sale mode since Thursday night! She said the computer was off limits! :rolleyes:


Jim, I couldn't have said it better! :D

Thank-you for the response. It is a 6# or 8# rebond pad (7/16)that I am deciding between. The carpet that we choose is fairly dense.

I tried both pads under the same sample peice (in my basement)and I do like the 8# better. It is definately more firm, but it really felt better than the 6# on the concrete floor.

As far as the sales person, I met with the owner the other day, and I asked him why his sales person was so strong in his recommendation against the 8#. He told me that most people think the 8# is too firm, but it is a matter of preference....He told me that if that is what I liked, he would be glad to install it, and he really didn't have any reasons against the 8# pad.

Bottom line, I felt better after I talked to the owner, and I think I am going to buy from them.

I have 3 kids, and I would choose the 8# because it will save me hospital bills down the road, when their knees go crashing into the carpet. Denser is better.