Buyer’s Guide – Page 22 – Good Carpet Guide

If you use a carpet pad, the quality of the carpet will increase. Without a carpet pad, carpet becomes deformed within a few months after its first use. Carpet pads are effective in reducing the contact of the carpet with the concrete base and therefore useful since the concrete has a rough surface. If you don't use a carpet pad, carpet loses its original features in a short time because friction occurring as a result of walking and loading on the carpet. Carpet pads have a padding effect, thus provide comfort and softness when walking. Various materials are used in the production of carpet pads, their choice depends on the type of decorative covering. Before buying a carpet pad, you should first carefully examine its properties and what materials is it made of. The quality of a carpet pad depends on the thickness, elasticity, and density of the material. It is recommended that you choose a thin, elastic and durable carpet pad that can provide complete sound insulation and partial heat insulation in the room. Note that the decorative carpet pad must have an even surface and must be extremely smooth. Table of Contents What Is a Carpet Pad? Features of Carpet Pads Carpet Pad Models Carpet Pad Prices Benefits of Using Carpet Pads Materials Used in the Production of Carpet Pads Polyurethane Foam Polyethylene Rubber Cork Polystyrene foam Points to Be Considered When Buying a Carpet Pad How to Choose the Right Carpet Pad Carpet Pad Flooring Technologies Scotch Pads Scotch Tape Dispersion Adhesives Two-Component Reactive Adhesives Stretching Method Flooring Without Fixing Carpet Pad Flooring on Different Surfaces Carpet Pad Flooring On Concrete Floors Carpet Pad Flooring On Wooden Floors Carpet Pad Flooring On Laminate Floors Determination of the Required Thickness of a Carpet Pad A New and Superior Chemical Structure for Carpet Pads Broadloom Tufted Carpets Tufted Tile Carpets Woven Carpets What Is a Carpet Pad? Carpet pad is a roll material with high strength and insulation properties. Its thickness should be between 0.5 and 1 cm which is the indicator that characterize quality material. The carpet pad is required for the following important functions: It softens the base height differences or small cavities. The use of carpet pads significantly influences the durability of carpets as they do not allow the carpet to come into contact with the primary floor covering. On the other hand, not using a carpet pad will cause the carpet to deform and wear rapidly. If you have a velvet carpet, using a carpet pad provides you more softness, which means you can easily walk barefoot on the carpet. Felt-based carpet pads have an intense structure with good thermal insulation, and they contribute to the sound insulation as well. Jute-based pads have the same properties and contribute more to sound insulation. A carpet pad made of cork is the safest in terms of being environmentally friendly, not being fragmentized easily and impact absorbing properties. The floor will be soft enough to prevent any objects from falling off and get broken. Such materials are especially recommended for use in children's rooms. Latex-based carpet pads firmly held on the floor surface provide reliable waterproofing. PVC pads also provide sound and water insulation, high strength and reliability, and a room with such a coating will be warmer. Polypropylene carpet pads are also preferred, but this material is permeable to water, so it should not be used in rooms with high humidity. Carpet pads made of synthetic felt will help protect the heat in the room and increase the softness of the carpet covering, while also hiding the disadvantages and irregularities of the floor. A carpet pad can also be made of rubber. Rubber increases the durability of your carpet and provides an excellent padding effect. It also hides the unevenness of the floor and prevents the carpet from being worn out easily. The polyurethane foam carpet pads likewise provide excellent sound insulation and will add comfort to the room with moisture resistance and thermal conductivity. Features of Carpet Pads Carpet pads designed to fix carpets, rugs and other floor coverings on the floor or make them more firmly attached to the floor, make everyday life easier. Non-slip pads and covers placed under the carpet by gluing, attaching or laying techniques allow the carpet to be laid more safely and evenly on the floor. Products placed under the carpet with gluing can easily be attached to the corners of the carpet or under the carpet with a single-sided adhesive tape. The carpet pads applied by the laying method can be used in a practical way without the need for any gluing or installation. Carpet pads, which become an organic part of carpets, increase the comfort and safety considerably. Carpet Pad Models Carpets that do not have a carpet pad can be moved very abruptly, especially on wooden parquet and ceramic floors. When walking on the carpet, the shape and position of the carpet can change suddenly. This situation brings many different negativities both in terms of aesthetics and security. Especially small children have a great benefit from non-slip carpet pad products. Children are happy to be able to move safely on the carpet while playing and running. Products that fix carpets, rugs or mats to the floor eliminate the risk of accidents. Their functional features and eye-catching anti-slip properties help to preserve the original appearance of carpets. The carpet pad models, which have a wide range of colors such as black, blue, red, gray, green, orange and white, can be positioned in different parts of the carpet or rug. The wide range of carped pads, with monolithic design, soft content and fast winding properties, allows large carpets of 5, 6 or 7 square meters or hallway and doorway carpets that should be laid longitudinally to be fixed on the same line. Soft, perforated and thin forms of carpet pads are integrated with the floor due to their own weight. Carpet pads that are very light and easy to handle can be easily maintained even in small areas when not in use. Carpet Pad Prices Carpet pads with a perforated texture can be used under cabinets, drawers, and shelves as well as floor coverings such as carpets and mats. These products easily isolate the hard floors by lightly damping the impacts with their soft content. In this way, for fragile items such as cups, bottles, and plates, hard floors are no longer pose a problem. Non-slip pads and strips, which are sold in rolls and can be opened quickly, can also be cut off from their serrated joints or they can be cut with the help of scissors according to the desired shape. New generation carpet pads, which are installed diagonally in the corner points of carpets, allow the carpet to be used without being rotated or crumpled. These pads, which can be adhered to the lower mesh or edge joining surfaces of the carpet, fix the carpets and rugs to the floor from the most moving corner points. These products, which prevent the carpet from sliding and dislocating, can have fabric, rubber, polymer or plastic content. The price of long-lasting carpet pads made of pure rubber can be slightly higher than that of traditional carpet pads. The dimensions of the product and the production technologies can also vary the prices. In general, carpet pad prices may vary depending on different aspects such as the brand, model, type, technical characteristics, design and number of pieces in the package. Benefits of Using Carpet Pads The carpet lining increases the life of the carpet several times, which means you don't need to buy a new carpet or pay for maintenance in a short time. It also gives the decorative coating a feeling of softness and flexibility as well as increasing wear resistance and efficiency. Using a carpet pad, it is possible to conceal surface irregularities and provide sound insulation to the room. It also provides a padding effect by taking the load falling on the floor. Using a carpet pad under your carpet is the most suitable option to ensure maximum efficiency and economic use. The carpet pad, which acts as a shock absorber, contributes to the equal load distribution. The pad which slows the deformation process of the carpet in this way also helps to increase the flexibility of the floor. Insulating properties of the carpet pads provides noise and heat insulation as well as hygroscopicity. Furthermore, the use of a thick carpet pad on uneven floors will ensure that the unevenness of the floor surface is not felt. When the floor covering is laminate or parquet, using a carpet pad is generally not a preferred option. However, regardless of the flooring, the use of carpet pads will be to your advantage. Materials Used in the Production of Carpet Pads A variety of polymers, plastics, and rubber are generally used in the production of carpet pads. The most common carpet pad materials are: Polyurethane Foam In heavy foot traffic rooms, it is recommended to use a carpet pad made of polyurethane foam. It is one of the best sound insulation materials. You must dry the area before laying the polyurethane foam pad. The material should be applied on a relatively flat surface with a height difference of not more than 5 mm. This material provides heat insulation and protection against water inflow in the room. The installation of polyurethane foam interlayers is not difficult, but it should be ensured that there are no air bubbles in between when installing. Polyethylene Polyurethane carpet pads' base and surfaces are completely made of polyethylene. They are mounted on a decorative floor with the help of an adhesive. This contributes to the proper fixation of the carpet. Polyethylene pads have high strength and provide moisture resistance. They can also help to heat the floor to some extent. Rubber Using a rubber carpet pad, you can improve the life of your carpet. It is very easy to install, so you can mount it yourself. The rubber carpet pads also help to hide the carpet irregularities. Cork This type of layer is one of the best types of decorative coatings due to its environmental characteristics. Cork carpet pads are not easily deformed, they are resistant to rotting and provide sound insulation. With the help of a cork carpet pad, you can hide the irregularities in the concrete floor. Since it is a natural material, it is usually used in kid's rooms to provide safety for children. It also protects the carpet from the weight of the furniture. Polystyrene foam The polystyrene foam carpet pad is laid on a dry surface and glued to the floor with an adhesive. Irregularities should not exceed 3 mm. It is also important that there should be no space between the pad and the floor. Carpet pads made of polystyrene foam are generally preferred in offices, health institutions, and residential buildings. The biggest advantage of this material is its ability to conceal defects in the base of the floor. It also provides good thermal insulation and sound insulation. Points to Be Considered When Buying a Carpet Pad It is recommended to make sure it has the following features before buying a carpet pad: The material should not be loose and must have the required density.Padding properties should be enough.The thickness of the carpet mat should be between 0.5-1 cm.It must have vapor permeability.Material selection should be made according to the load on the carpet.It should have sound and thermal insulation properties. How to Choose the Right Carpet Pad Considering the furniture orientation in the home, we try to take into account all the features of the settlement and to reach the maximum functionality of our own square meters. Therefore, when choosing a floor covering, it is very important to choose the right carpet pad that will have a positive impact on its lifespan. If you have chosen your carpet, it is necessary to prepare the floor with a special substrate before laying. Carpet pads are used for this purpose. The use of a carpet pad will be very useful, as it helps to eliminate the disadvantages of the flooring, regardless of the type of carpet and floor. Improving the quality characteristics of the carpet by using carpet pads will affect all residents of the house in a positive way because the floor is the most important part of the rooms we always use. Before buying a carpet pad, you should first carefully examine the properties of it as well as the materials used. Make sure the carpet pad is not loose. The material must be tight and springy. If it does not return to its previous shape when you squeeze the substrate with your fingers and release it, it is best not to choose such a product. The thickness of the carpet pad should be between 0.5 millimeters and 1 centimeter. The carpet pad should have a qualitative material quality certificate and must have a strong odor, be smooth and have a homogeneous thickness. It is also necessary to take into account the planned loads on the floor and to determine the appropriate type of carpet pad accordingly. When choosing a carpet pad material, remember to take into account factors such as air permeability, as the moisture and a rotten odor may occur in the room over time. When choosing a carpet pad considering your carpet and floor types, you should pay attention to the following features: If your carpet is made of natural materials like wool, it is better to choose a cork carpet mat since it is natural as well. If your carpet's material is synthetic, it is recommended to choose the appropriate polymer carpet pads, such materials will bond easier and better to each other. Choose rubber carpet pads to lay on a concrete floor, which will ensure the long-lasting soft coating. Carpet Pad Flooring Technologies The carpet pad flooring is made with fixing fasteners or adhesive solutions. The quality of the flooring of the carpet pad depends largely on the quality of the pad itself. Flooring is carried out according to the technical specifications of the carpet and the material on which it is gonna be laid. Flooring can be done by applying the adhesive solution to the carpet pad without needing any auxiliary devices which fix the materials. Adhesive selection depends on the material used. The temperature of the room where the material is planned to be laid should be at the desired value. For each type of material, the required humidity in the room also varies. Carpet pad flooring technologies include scotch pads, scotch tape, dispersion adhesives, two-component reactive adhesives, stretching method, and flooring without fixing. Scotch Pads The advantage of this technology is its ease of application and its ability to quickly remove the coating without damage. To apply this method the floor should be dry and clean. Scotch Tape The edges of the carpet pad are applied with scotch tape. Starting from the wall, the carpet is rolled by removing the protective layer of the adhesive tape. As you move, you should press to the floor to fix the adhesive layer and to flatten the material. Surplus coatings are cut, plinths are mounted. Dispersion Adhesives The most common type of such adhesives is PVA, but it should not be used on concrete floors. Dispersion adhesives are popular acrylic based universal adhesives. Two-Component Reactive Adhesives It is possible to lay the carpet pad on a concrete floor with a polyurethane adhesive specially developed for this purpose. The adhesive is mixed with the hardener just before starting the work and is allowed to stand for 1 hour. Adhesion occurs not as a result of evaporation of the solvent, but as a result of a chemical reaction between the components. Therefore, this does not depend on the presence and concentration of moisture in the air. The flexibility of the material increases after solidification. Such glues can be used in a wide variety of ambient temperatures and floor surfaces. When working with a two-component adhesive, it should be noted that the hardener has toxic properties till the adhesive dries. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure continuous ventilation of the room when working with this type of glues. The work is carried out in two stages. First, one half of the room and then the other half is floored. In order to do this, carpet which is rolled first is folded up to half and then the other half goes into operation. After the material is glued, it is rolled from the center to the walls without the need for strong pressure. If a joint is required, the two parts of the coating are superimposed. After adhering the main part of the carpet pad, a long metal ruler is placed on the joint and cut along the two layers of the coating. The ruler is removed, the joint is covered with glue, the edges are pressed to the base and rolled with a rubber roller. Stretching Method It is a complex technology that requires the use of professional skills and several special tools. This method is used to lay carpet pads in a large area. The flooring is made on a rail. This is a short, two-row and thin (up to 1 cm thick) rail. It acts as a hook to hold the stretched carpet. This method allows you to lay the carpet pad without glue, as it will be attached to the carpet throughout the perimeter, not the plane of the floor base. Combining joints using sewing and thermal tape clamps requires professional skills, so this work is reliable for experienced professionals. Flooring Without Fixing It is a customary method used by most home artists. This is used when laying carpet pads in low-density rooms having a small (up to 20 m2) area. In rooms with high permeability or a large area, a more reliable fixation is required as the carpet pad needs to be stretched along the floor. This method will cause premature wear and rupture of carpets in large-area rooms. Carpet Pad Flooring on Different Surfaces To properly position the carpet pad under the carpet, you need to have a certain amount of knowledge. The flooring technique varies for each different surface. Carpet Pad Flooring On Concrete Floors The concrete floor must be cleaned of debris and dust. Determine if additional leveling is required and, if necessary, do not neglect this step because it may adversely affect the carpet itself and cause deformation of the carpet pad. After cleaning the floor, you can begin laying the carpet pad. This can be done using adhesive or with a reliable fixing component. You can also fix the carpet pad with a double-sided tape by placing it on the prepared floor. If a carpet pad that does not have waterproofing is to be placed under the carpet, the thickness of that carpet pad should be carefully determined. Once the concrete floor has been smoothed and all irregularities and cracks have been removed, the carpet pad will continue to be laid. To do this, apply a special adhesive with a notched trowel to the concrete surface of the floor and adhere the pad. This should be done carefully and the carpet pad should be rounded with a roller to prevent wrinkles and air bubbles. After the pad has dried and glued, the same adhesive is applied on the carpet to glue it to the pad. After that, let the carpet dry and form, but then you can mount the plinths by cutting off excess material in the corners and near the walls. Do not forget to follow the basic rules when laying, that is, apply glue evenly to a small layer, and you should leave at least five centimeters gap near the wall. Carpet Pad Flooring On Wooden Floors Note the presence of defects such as cracks and irregularities. Eliminating them will help to prevent the deformation of the carpet pad and extend the service life. Calculate the amount of materials required, measure the dimensions of the floor of the room and calculate the area. The standard roll width is 1 m and you can choose the length yourself. It is not desirable to flatten such a floor with self-leveling screed, it is better to use plywood or chipboard. In some cases, the alignment layer is stacked on two plywood and so the layers do not conjoin. The joints can be fixed with the help of the construction tape. Before you start working, decide what kind of installation to plan the next work steps. Work on the roughing of the floor surface. Large differences in height and moving plank can cause not only the deformation of the laid carpet pad but also the wear and tear of the carpet. Decide on the quality characteristics of the respective carpet pad to match the features of your carpet. By this way, you can install the pad easier. Carpet Pad Flooring On Laminate Floors The laminate subfloor should be suitable for laying the carpet pad in accordance with the instructions of the carpet pad manufacturer in the flooring guide. In addition to others, mineral subfloors (eg concrete mortar, concrete, asphalt), wood chipboard constructions, wood flooring, or hard coatings such as stone, ceramic, PVC, etc., can be used for laminate flooring subfloor. It is also important to pay attention to points such as flatness, strength, and humidity. Roundnesses with a thickness of more than 3 mm at one meter should be corrected and filled. The carpet pad must be as strong as possible to prevent excessive springiness or collapsing when the load is pressed. In particular, it must be placed in front of an evaporation inhibitor, as it is necessary to take into account a constantly rising substrate moisture on mineral substrates. Determination of the Required Thickness of a Carpet Pad Carpet pads are available in several materials with thicknesses ranging from 6 mm to 15 mm. The correct thickness for a particular room depends to a large extent on the foot traffic and the type of the carpet. The carpet pad should not be too thick in rooms which are used too much. Thick pads may prevent the carpet from stretching properly during installation. This can be exacerbated by too much pedestrian traffic, which can cause fluctuations in the carpet. An equally important point is the density or weight of the carpet pad. In pounds, the 2 - 3.5 kg carpet pads are the most common weights used in homes. The carpet pad takes the degree of weight based on the weight of 1 cubic foot (0.028 cubic centimeters). Even if the carpet pad is thick, if it is not sufficiently dense, it may wear faster and accelerate the breakdown of the carpet. An optimal combination of carpet pad thickness and density will give the best, longest lasting results. In areas with heavy foot traffic, such as corridors, restrooms or staircases, the carpet padding should not be thicker than 3/8 inches on the dense side of the carpet. The thinner pad prevents the back of the carpet from falling off, while high density provides comfort and stability. Thicker, more padded materials are best in bedrooms and other low traffic areas. Selecting a filling layer (carpet pad) of appropriate quality to the carpet is important. The cheap pads will accelerate the deformation of the carpet. Also, if the carpet has a guarantee, it is necessary to follow the manufacturer's instructions, otherwise it may be canceled. Special installations, such as carpets on a radiant floor heater, require finer, lower density pads. To increase heat retention or sound absorption, the fitted pad should be as thick and dense as possible without exceeding the manufacturer's recommendations. A New and Superior Chemical Structure for Carpet Pads Vinyl acetate ethylene (VAE) based dispersions meet all technical requirements for carpet pad applications. Therefore, it is also suitable for broadloom tufted carpets, tile carpet production, weaving and felt needling applications. Furthermore, vinyl acetate-ethylene dispersions are characterized by their low odor, low emission, and flame-retardant properties. They can be used with vinyl acetate-ethylene carpet pads, broadloom tufted carpets, tufted tile carpets, and woven carpets. Broadloom Tufted Carpets In the case of broadloom tufted carpets, vinyl acetate-ethylene dispersions are used for sub-linings and second coatings, for the following technical reasons: Good filling load Good penetration and fiber adhesion (bond strength) Compatibility with formulation additives Good darkening response High degree flame retardant properties Tufted Tile Carpets In the case of tile carpet applications, vinyl acetate-ethylene dispersions offer the following advantages: Desired stiffness and durability Good plasticizer resistance Good compatibility with other system components such as PVC, bitumen Low tendency to form a curl or dome after placement Woven Carpets Vinyl acetate-ethylene dispersions used as the coating of woven carpets provide: Cutting edge stabilityDimensional stabilityAttitudes / flexibilityLoop bindingExacerbation resistance properties