Three
Types
There are three major types of carpet pad. They are
foam, fiber and rubber. The most common type of foam
pad is called rebond pad. Rebond pad is made from
scraps of foam typically used in furniture. These foam
scraps are bonded together to form padding that is available
in varying levels of thickness and density. Rebond pad
is the most popular type and is the most widely used because
it is the least expensive to make, yet wears just about as
well as the other types.
Rubber
pad is a cushion that can be manufactured flat or in a
waffle pattern. It is best used under Berber carpet or
in commercial installations.
Fiber
pads are made out of either natural or synthetic fibers.
This type of padding is sometimes referred to as felt.
The first carpet pads were natural fiber pads made of horse
hair and jute. This type of pad, often called simply
"hair and jute" is rarely used anymore.
Synthetic fibers, such as nylon, polyester and polypropylene
are now widely used because they are cheaper to make.
Thickness
and Density
More important than the type of pad used are variables such
as thickness and density. Thickness refers to the
actual thickness of the pad and is described in fractions,
such as 3/8 inch pad or 7/16 inch pad. Density is a
measure of the weight of the pad per cubic foot. Four-pound
and 6-pound are the most frequently used densities.
Six-pound has more pad per cubic foot than 4-pound, and
therefore is more dense. Higher density pads are
typically better for high traffic areas. When
describing a variety of pad, you will commonly hear a
description of the thickness, density and type, such as 1/2
inch 6-pound rebond pad.
Carpet
Padding