We are pulling up the carpet and padding in our house and replacing it with wood flooring. We have been wanting to put additional insulation in our attic and came up with the idea to spread the carpet padding in the attic over the existing insulation. Before we do this, I thought I'd ask if this might be a bad idea for some reason.
Sounds like a good idea but I suggest you talk with at least 2 builders about this. It may not be safe. Good luck.
I asked my husband about your idea and he said that he didn't think it would work because insulation has to breathe and carpet padding would not allow for that and it would cause dampness. Hope this tip helps you with your decision.
I would make for certain and call my local carpet store.
Would it be fireproof?
My husband and I used to own a home construction business. I can tell you that this would not be a good idea, because the weight of the padding would compact the existing insulation, which would prevent it from capturing and retaining air.
Thanks so much for your input! I just hate throwing away anything! I was wondering if the carpet padding might work as insulation around the water heater. We're ditching the idea of putting it in the attic thanks to your comments!
Not a good idea, you need proper insulation. Do you have children, grandkids, friends with kids, they could use it in a playhouse or a dollhouse. Otherwise, donate it.
I had the same problem with the pad and the carpet. I decided it would work great on a hill side that was at the back of my property.
This would not be a good idea. Old carpet padding tends to get very crumbly over time; also, even though it might look clean, it isn't. Padding retains a lot of dust and debris. I went online and found this information. To find a carpet pad recycling center ask at your local carpeting or home improvement store or look online. Many times your local carpeting store will take the padding and sell it to the carpet padding recycling center. If you can find your own recycling center, you can take that money yourself, though you'll have to do your own hauling. Most people don't realize that recycled carpet pad has value so don't even think to check about recycling it. By making contact with the right person, you can receive that value. Hope this helps.
I wouldnt do it because its the air pockets in the insulation that adds the extra warmth. Once insulation gets packed down, you need to add more.
Also, I think if insulation would work better than way, manufacturers would sell those type of "blankets" for insulation.
You may want to put down your carpet padding UNDER your insulation, but I'm thinking this is not new construction you are talking about. The other idea is to use your old carpet between rows in your garden if you vegetable garden. It keeps weeds out.
Please keep thinking of ways to reuse materials that would otherwise go to landfills. I'm proud of you.
We use old carpet in the garden. We make strips about 2 feet wide and lay them out for walk ways. You could also use carpet to keep weeds out of flower beds around the plants or bushes. As for the padding, we have used it in the shop to stand or walk on, nicer than concrete.
I have one of those huge whole house fans in my attic that goes from the ceiling in the upstairs hall up into the attic and out the house. I put all my old carpet padding over it in the winter to help seal out the drafts - It works great because the padding molds to the shape of the fan.
For my two cents I had insulation that was just up to the tops of the ceiling joists and rolled out carpet pad or the joists and did not compress it much and left some gaps at the edges to allow some air movement. Then blew in more insulation over it so that if there is any moisture it will would not condense under the pad as long as the dew point is not reached. I would recommend it in that type application.
Then how in the world is it safe for the floor and it doesn't cause the floor to not breathe and become wet.
I had put off installing hardwood for many years as I was very reluctant to throw carpet and padding in a landfill. Well, the installer just finished for the day and, on a whim, I folded up the recently removed carpet padding and refilled my beautiful sofa cushions.
I used carpet padding to insulate my out building. I stapled it between the studs and it works just fine. It also dampers the sound from outside. I install flooring for a living have been for over 20 years so I had a lot of small rolls laying around and didn't want to just throw it away. Hope this helps you out.
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
We have 4 rolls of new carpet pad left over from a project. Is there any use for it? Are there crafts it can be used for?
You can bind it and use it for rugs in areas that have no carpet.
Thrifty Fun has talked about this topic previously:
www.thriftyfun.com/
The shoe inserts was the only one that remotely appealed to me.
Padding has a weird texture and smell so I personally would not use it for anything other than it was intended, but that is just me
If I had 4 rolls, I would 1st see if the place I bought it would take it back. If not, I would be the one selling it Facebook Marketplace or one of the online sale/want/trade sites and use the money to buy yarn--which is my current "craft drug" of choice!!
Post back what you decide!
We pulled out our carpet and carpet pad, but don't wish to take it to the land fill. We are thinking about using it for insulation, but the weight of it will depress the existing attic insulation causing it to not perform. Perhaps we can nail layers on the wall to provide sound insulation. but then we have to drywall it over.
Any better ideas of make second life out of old carpet and carpet pad?
By yanghome2000
Cut the carpet into blocks and use for mud-rugs outside the doors. Use the carpet blocks for lying on the ground to work under the car, or knee padding for yard work. Use old carpets to cover driveway mud :)
I actually hang rugs on the walls on purpose as both a sort of wall art, insulation and sound muffling. You could make a large frame for some of it. Or have it bound off into wall size pieces. Or hang some and pin things to it like pretty dried branches or leaves or other natural things. Or cover a whole wall and then hang pictures on the carpeting wherever you normall would.
Regift it through Habitat shops or ad on radio. My parents loved it when friends got new carpet. They would buy it for their farm house. Since you can imagine the feet on a farm, they would not put new in. To do with it as you suggest, might result in a some fire hazard, or health hazard. If you could get it outside and steam clean it, hang it on the line to dry, and let the sun help.
Here are some uses for extra carpet padding. Post your ideas!
Carpet stores will give you leftover pieces from installations for FREE if you ask.
They are good for making chair cushions, double for more thickness and cover.
For your dog's bed, use carpet pads in a zippered pillow slip cover, makes it easy to remove and wash.
By syd
We used to live in a house with hardwood floors--very cold in the winter. I used a bath mat beside my bed with a scrap of carpet padding underneath. It was nice to step out of bed onto a cushy rug!
We had high end padding leftover from office carpet replacement. I cut pieces to insulate the metal overhead garage door. It made a huge difference, I was able to use the garage for auto maintenance during Pennsylvania winter months.
You know those expensive padded shoe inserts that you can buy in the store? Lots of people use them for extra cushion in their shoes, especially if they have a job that requires lots of standing.
