Which Side To Lay Carpet Padding

In this video i share a few quick tips on how to install carpet padding and which side of the carpet padding goes up.

Which side to lay carpet padding.

Now it is time to install the carpet pad. Lay out the carpet pad perpendicular to the direction you plan to install the carpet image 1 and staple it near the tackless strips with a staple hammer image 2. This is the side that faces up. Whether it s cushioned back carpet for a basement or plush carpet and pad for a living room here is some general information to help you understand how to lay carpet in place.

For corners and alcoves where the power stretcher can t reach use the knee kicker and stair tool. Most carpet padding consists of polyurethane foam the same stuff that s in furniture mattresses and even car seats. Some carpet paddings have a webbing or moisture barrier coating on one side. Carpet with attached padding is a project most diyers are comfortable doing creating an even bigger savings by skipping installation fees altogether.

If in doubt ask your carpet salesperson and don t be embarrassed. The reason for this smooth side is so that the carpet can easily slide across the pad when installing it. At one big box home retailer recent prices for a roll of carpet padding ranged from 50 19 per square foot for a recycled foam padding with a density of 5 to about 300 1 11 per square foot for a top quality memory foam padding with a density of 10. If you re installing over wood floors the moisture barrier goes up to prevent spills from soaking into the padding.

Laying the carpet padding is an important part of the carpeting installation process not only because it can make the carpeting feel more comfortable but it will also have an impact on the durability of the carpet. Carpet typically comes in 12 foot widths which makes a roll of carpet heavy and hard to handle even for an average sized room of 12 feet x 12 feet. Carpet padding is typically sold in rolls containing 270 square feet of padding. It serves a number of uses such as insulation acoustics support and comfort.

It is a question that gets asked a lot. Carpet with padding takes less time to install than padding and carpet separately and it takes less tools.