Overheard a GC say carpet padding is all the same... had to bite my tongue

Was at a supply house last Tuesday picking up some tack strip and this general contractor was bragging to the counter guy about how he saves money on jobs by buying the cheapest rebond pad he can find. Said 'it all goes under the carpet anyway who cares.' I wanted to pull him aside so bad. Cheap pad can turn a good carpet install into a nightmare in 6 months. I've seen seams separate and wrinkles show up because the pad breaks down too fast. Had a customer last year come back complaining about ridges in their hallway after just 8 months. Pulled up a corner and the pad was practically dust. Anybody else run into this with GCs cutting corners on underlayment?

2 comments

2 Comments

julia_jones721mo ago

Do you think part of the issue is that some GCs actually believe the carpet pad is hidden so it has no effect on how long the carpet lasts? I swear they don't realize the pad is what takes the impact, not the carpet fibers.

alex_hall911mo ago

Well, the fibers are what you actually see and walk on, so maybe they matter more than you're giving credit for.

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