Carpet installation question...
I'm replacing the carpet in my fifth-wheel. I have a memory foam pad and am trying to visualize how this all goes together. Do I need to use a knee-kicker/stretcher for such a small space? (lon...
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cannesdo wrote:I stand corrected. I had no idea that that type of foam is being used for carpet pad. It sends up a bunch of red flags for me, though.
Very helpful, and easy to understand --thank you Westend (you too Pepp). But as for the memory foam, it is memory foam. Top of the line. Just received it and it leaves an imprint when you press on it and will never leave dents in your carpet from chairs etc...Gets rave reviews from those who use it. I got mine from someone on eBay and they bungled the shipment so they refunded in full, including the shipping. ?! :)
This takes you to the Home Depot page for the pad.
I've forgotten what they call the stitch used for rugs but basically you have a fiber that is stitched into a backing. Modern carpet is usually all plastic backed until you get into premium goods and some of that is still made with a natural fiber backing. As carpet is walked on, it compresses the fibers of the pile and stretches the backing. This is why with cheaper plastic backed rug, you'll see loose carpet or waves after the carpet has had some wear. A jute backing will stretch less and tends to shrink from age.
Carpet that is installed by glue-direct will wear the least. That type of installation has no pad and is usually used in a commercial setting. The better foam pad is made from virgin closed cell foam. Next down the ladder is rebond, basically chopped and recycled foam pieces held together by adhesive. The better rebonds will have more glue and therefore, a higher density.
And now we have a memory foam, a type of foam that has the most compressibility. I see that it is rated as 10 lb. density which would put it in the neighborhood of rebond pad. But now the memory foam has the "memory" part and doesn't spring back. This should allow the carpet to stretch more as it wears or is walked on. This is the red flag I'm seeing.
It will be interesting to follow your exploits with the memory foam and to see how your carpet fairs. Who knows, that may be many years down the road.
