When it comes to carpet, people tend to focus on what they see and feel—that is the topside of the carpet. After all, it’s why we select carpet, right? Well, not entirely. Carpet, unlike any other type of floor covering, provides a cushiony softness under foot. But that cushiony softness is not totally attributable to the fiber, pile density or tufting style. A lot of that enjoyment of carpet actually emanates from beneath it—from the carpet cushion itself.
To be sure, carpet cushions aren’t the glamor-part choosing and buying a new carpet, but they are every bit as important. However, most carpet customers (and surprisingly carpet retailers for that matter) don’t give carpet cushion its just due. To them, all carpet cushions are pretty much the same. They believe they are begrudgingly necessary but certainly not worth much attention (out of sight, out of mind). Even the term “carpet padding” still persists, just as those bizarre multi-colored recycled bits and chips of foam (and whatever else) welded together with heat, pressure and glue. Thank goodness those things are hidden under a beautiful carpet!
