Having a nice carpet pad between your carpeting and the concrete subfloor in the basement can really eliminate that feeling and help the room feel as warm as.
Types of carpet padding for basement.
Pad density aka pad weight.
The question is how will you know what grade of carpet or padding you are buying.
Density is typically measured in pounds per cubic foot but sometimes you ll see it listed as ounces per square yard expect the pad density to be 3 10lbs for most common padding.
Concrete is usually used as the subfloor for basements in homes and since most basements are below ground level this makes them prone to dampness.
Pad density is the 2 factor in pad durability 1 is the type of pad more on that later.
But as a precaution against moisture use an open cell pad to allow the concrete to breathe nearly all pads are open cell pads which provide better insulation and are less expensive than closed cell pads.
Foam padding urethane this type of pad is often very inexpensive and lightweight.
This type isn t very soft but it can be ideal for commercial uses and may even be required for some berber carpet types.
For berber carpets the carpet and rug institute recommends a carpet padding no thicker than.
Less common carpet padding types are made of fibers such as polyester nylon or felt.
A basement carpet pad will help hold off the feeling of cold and dampness that concrete basement floors can transfer the feeling of cold has always been one of the biggest drawbacks of concrete floors especially in the basement.
On a cold hard basement floor a soft pad is essential for comfort and warmth.
Most residential carpets are installed over padding.
The type of padding you select for a concrete floor is perhaps even more important than the type you use in rooms upstairs.
Opt for a polyurethane foam pad and stay away from a rubber pad.
In fact some carpet types do better with thinner padding.
Carpeting a basement isn t impossible and if you like the soft feel of carpet fibers it may very well be the answer for you.
Any carpet that can be used in other areas of the house can be used in the basement.
Textured carpet is typically used in bedrooms family rooms and dens but can also be used in offices basements and hallways.
For example berber carpet with its distinctive loop pattern works well in basements hallways and stairs.
Underpad is generally fine to use in a basement provided it is also synthetic.
In general the thickness for carpet padding shouldn t be more than.
Typical cost for a 6 to 8 pound density rebond pad is about 3 50 5 50 per square yard or about 39 to 45 cents per square foot.
Alternatives to basement carpet.
The best carpet pad for basement applications should be made of a synthetic material.