#12 Carpet Cushions

 

Carpet Cushions

Gina Christopher

 


Rebond:

Rebond works well under most cut pile carpets in normal traffic. Rebond padding is the most common type for residential use. Made from recycled foam pieces, it’s affordable, eco-friendly, and available in multiple densities and thicknesses. Rebond comes in different weights such as 6lb or 8lb. The differences usually refer to pad weight per cubic foot. Higher numbers often resist crushing longer.

 


Synthetic & Real horsehair pads:

Synthetic horsehair pads are very resilient and resistant to crushing or flattening. Real horsehair pads are also durable but may not have the same level of resistance as synthetic horsehair pads. Synthetic horsehair pads offer a firmer cushion than real horsehair pads. Real horsehair pads provide softer cushioning due to their natural fibers. Synthetic horsehair pads are generally more affordable than real horsehair pads. Synthetic horsehair pads are also less prone to mold and mildew. Real horsehair pads require more frequent cleaning and maintenance due to their natural fibers.

 


Felt pads:

Felt padding is made from recycled fiber or wool blends. Wool felt can deliver a dense, quiet feel with long wear potential. Felt pads are durable and often chosen for Berber and low-pile carpets. Its firm density keeps carpets stable and minimizes stretch. Wool-based felt also adds mild soundproofing and insulation value. Flet carpet padding is eco-friendly, firm, and durable but offers less cushion than foam padding. Felt carpet padding is best for Berber carpets, stairs, and tight-weave installations. Many installers like fiber pads on stairs since the firm feel supports safe footing.

 


Rubber pads:

Cellular rubber cushions are often referred to as foam rubber, sponge rubber, expanded rubber, or latex rubber cushions. The Carpet Cushion Council classifies these as sponge rubber cushions and reverses use of the word foam for cushions made from polyurethane there are two specific types of sponge rubber carpet cushions: waffled sponge rubber cushions and flat sponge rubber cushions. Waffled sponge offers a soft feel and flat sponges are firmer. Both types can be made from natural or synthetic rubber or latex compounds. Waffled sponge rubber has larger cells and thicker cell walls than flat sponge rubber, so it is more porous and less likely to retain odors. Rubber pads offer excellent support, a long lifespan, and moisture resistance, but are often a more expensive choice.

 



Foam pads:

Polyurethane is highly flammable but because carpet cushioning represents minimal quantity compared with carpet, no stringent flammability codes applied to it as a standalone material. Three types of polyurethane foam cushions are available for residential and commercial use: prime, mechanically frothed, and bonded. The chemical composition of these cushions is basically the same, but different manufacturing processes produce them, and their cellular structures differ.  All types of polyurethane foam cushions are manufactured in several thicknesses, generally ranging from 1/4 to 3/4 of an inch, and usually have a spunbonded facing to facilitate installation.

 


One Step Further:

There are also some specialty carpet pads such as soundproof, odor resistant, hypoallergenic, and waterproof carpet padding. Waterproof carpet padding is good for basements, laundry rooms, and pet areas to block moisture and extend carpet life. Soundproof carpet padding can be used for multi-level homes or apartments to reduce noise. Odor resistant padding contains antimicrobial and odor blocking additives to create a more pet friendly environment. Hypoallergenic padding minimizes dust and allergens. and is designed for families with asthma or allergies.

 


References:

This old-school carpet pad lasts forever. is it right for you?. web statistics. (n.d.). https://www.houzdepot.blog/horsehair-vs-synthetic-carpet-padding

Types of carpet padding: Rebond, rubber, Felt Guide. (n.d.-b). https://classyfloor.com/types-of-carpet-padding/

Wolfe, R. (2025, October 29). Best carpet padding types explained – comfort, durability & performance. Carpet Insight. https://carpetinsight.com/best-carpet-padding-types-explained/

Yates, M., & Concra, A. (2019). Textiles for residential and commercial interiors. Fairchild Books, Bloomsbury Publishing Inc.

 

Extra Credit Links:

How to Choose the Best Carpeting Padding for you !

Different Types of Carpet Padding

Comments

  1. Cara VeenstraApril 14, 2026 at 8:35 AM

    Hi Gina! Great blog this week! I love how you organized your blog and sectioned it off by carpet pad type. I also really liked the images you chose for comparing 6lb vs. 8lb rebond, and real horsehair vs. synthetic horsehair. I also liked your One Step Further talking about the specialty types of carpet padding. I personally don't like being able to hear people walking above me in my dorm so I looked into soundproofing carpet pads more. I attached some links below if you want to chekc them out. Great job!
    -https://www.rubcorp.com/sound-absorbing-carpet-padding/
    -https://www.soundproofgenius.com/does-carpet-padding-for-soundproofing-work/
    -https://www.flooringclarity.com/what-is-carpet-padding-made-materials-types-benefits/

    ReplyDelete
  2. Grace PekocApril 14, 2026 at 11:33 AM

    Gina, I liked your summary of the information about carpet pads and the different types there are. I thought you did a great job of explaining each of these and I was able to get a very good understanding of each fro my our blog. I also liked your one step further about the different types of carpet pads and how they have different attributes such as water proof, sound proof, anti-microbial and odor blocking abilities. I didn't even consider that these qualities could be incorporated into the carpet pads but this makes sense and reminds me of when we went to Carlson's Flooring and learned about the pet friendly carpet pads. Here are some more links that describe the different kind of carpet pads and the best pet friendly carpet pads:
    https://www.healthierchoice.com/healthier-choice-cushion-overview
    https://www.allaboutflooringofsc.com/blog/why-do-carpet-and-rug-pads-matter-and-what-type-should-i-have-in-my-home
    https://www.rugpadusa.com/articles/best-carpet-pad-for-pets?srsltid=AfmBOoqWFbzvA4DHKS7Vo-EALToReradtjWoQlm3-CpCJrRQ377KI-v0

    ReplyDelete

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