If you put a cheap carpet on an expensive pad it will feel softer, right? I have been asked this question hundreds of times and my answer is always no. There seems to be some misinformation about carpet underlay floating around either the Internet or from too many home improvement shows.
The truth about carpet pad (or underlay) is that it gets firmer as it gets more expensive. It also gets thicker, denser and more resistant to dust, mould and crushing. As a chipfoam pad goes up in weight, the chips of foam get smaller in size and the density of the foam increases. Depending on the materials used you can be purchasing foam made of everything from recycled mattresses to virgin memory foam. The more a foam must be recycled the more chemicals are used in the cleaning process so the more expensive underlays will be constructed with better materials.
We have been using virgin memory foam underlay for several years and it always gets outstanding reviews from our clients. I had it installed in my basement and I must admit it is the most luxurious carpet/pad I have ever sunk my toes into. The firmer, dense foam is still soft yet it provides enough support for my carpet, the softer and more pliable a pad is the more vulnerable the carpet can be to stretching.
We have recently launched a new line of underlay which is very exciting (if its possible to get excited about pad!) This product is made entirely from Tempur-Pedic virgin memory foam and walking on it is like a dream. If you are the kind of person who spends time lounging on the floor you deserve a treat like this under your carpet! If you are like me you have longed for a Tempur-Pedic mattress only to be deterred by the hefty price tag, the rest you get on these mattresses is superior and the same is true for a luxe experience of your favorite carpet on this amazing underlay.
Behind every great home design are the building blocks and foundation on which these designs shine. That beautiful decorative accessory you hang or that perfect shade of carpet are reaping the benefits of a well thought out and built structure. The most amazing paint colour will not wow if it is put on crooked or patchy drywall and your glowing natural hardwood will be a disappointment if the floors are unlevel. It makes a great difference what you put behind, underneath and inside your other decorative choices and the enthralling world of carpet underlay awaits your choosing. I hope you know that I’m kidding, there is nothing exciting about underlay but it is a vital part of choosing carpet.
If you are wanting something more, a green healthy underlay which warms up your home, increases energy efficiency and provides a lasting barrier from dust and moisture then I urge you to check out the new options in carpet pad. As we age the need for support increases (shoes, bras, undergarments in general), our carpet will work hard for us for the next 15-20 years and it deserves a pad that will support and care for it over its long life.
Kim Meckler is an interior designer in Red Deer with Carpet Colour Centre.
