Carpet Padding - Moisture Barrier Pad

Should I Use a Moisture Barrier Padding?

Some carpet salespeople recommend a moisture barrier pad to every customer. Moisture barrier pads are generally more costly than a standard padding and may be suitable in some circumstances. However, I have found that in most situations homeowners are mislead into thinking a moisture barrier pad can do more than they are actually designed to do.

Some claim that a Moisture Barrier pad will prevent spills from soaking into the pad. What benefit does that provide?

Moisture In Basements

Some homeowners have a serious moisture problem in their basement and might think that a moisture barrier pad will be beneficial by preventing moisture from coming up through the pad and carpet. Unfortunately a moisture barrier will trap the moisture under the pad and will promote the growth of mold and mildew, causing a hidden health hazard.

If you have a moisture problem in your basement you need to fix the problem before you install any flooring product.

Over Hardwood Floors

Some folks think that a moisture barrier pad will help protect their beautiful hardwood floors from being ruined from any potential liquid spills when carpet and pad is installed over the top.

Any liquid that soaks through the carpet will quickly spread out on top of a moisture barrier pad. If any spills fall near the pad seams or near the walls, it can easily get underneath the pad and become trapped. This prolonged exposure to moisture can cause serious damage to the hardwoods and not be discovered until the carpet and pad is removed years later. Potted plants and pet accidents are the moist common cause of damage to hardwood floors with pad carpet installed over the top.

Some say that if the pad seams are sealed with duct tape, liquids will not be able to soak through. From all my experience in the flooring business I've learned one thing for sure; that water (or moisture) is always somehow able to find a way to soak through any barrier and can cause significant damage.

Using a regular pad without a moisture barrier would be my suggestion because most liquid spills would be able to dry or evaporate long before causing damage to the hardwoods below.

Pet Accidents

Some homeowners think that a moisture barrier pad will help with pet urine problems, perhaps making it easier to clean up the accident and reduce urine odors. This is not true because any liquid that soaks through the carpet backing will spread out on top surface of the moisture barrier padding.

While the entrance spot on top of the carpet may appear be two inches in diameter, under the carpet it could have spread out to be eight inches in diameter or more on the top surface of the padding. This makes the pet accident or spill much more difficult to clean up since the size and scope of the accident is misleading.

Once the urine dries on top of the padding the odor will be more evident as foot traffic and vacuuming continues to disturb the affected area. Every time you clean your carpets it will "reactivate" the dried urine on top of the pad and the odor will magnify. Since some pets tend to have accidents in the same spot over and over again the problem becomes compounded.

Beyond the Moisture Barrier

In the end, some folks spend a significant amount of money on specialty pads and end up not getting the results or benefits they expect. I don't generally recommend using any specialty pads because overall I think they are overpriced, have limited benefits and may cause more problems then they solve. Some carpet manufacturers are offering a warranty extension if you buy their specialty padding. Most homeowners never file a carpet warranty claim so if you consider the increased price of the pad against the limited benefits from an extended carpet warranty you might find that it is not worth the added expense.

Any good quality padding with sufficient density can do the job just fine and save you money. Selecting the right carpet, choosing the right pad, getting qualified installation and buying from a reputable dealer are the four most critical factors in buying new carpet. Read through my website for more information and insight about how to buy new carpet wisely!

Alan Fletcher