Due to financial restraints I have to put regular carpeting in the basement until things get better- I was able to get a 12' x 30' section of rolled carpet from Lowes very cheap since they wanted to get rid of it- Since the basement already had water- I'm reluctant to put a carpet pad back in- Any thoughts on this? My kids are older and won't be rolling around on it- but my wife wants me to put padding in for the softness/warmth etc- I'm just not sure since it already got wet once (Also- the cement floor was completely scrubbed with bleach and I keep a dehumidifier down there)- any other suggestions vs padding or should I just go with it?

 

I'd put padding down, carpet over concrete is still pretty hard.

Yep, if this gets wet, you'd have to chuck the pad again.

 

Are you talking about padding vs glue down, or vs just cutting it to shape and loose laying it?

 

loose- just laying it down

 

If the carpet is a thin loop like a commercial carpet or a low pile Berber, it should hold up OK for the short term. It depends on how much traffic you get. It will be as hard as a rock though. Also, its difficult to get it to look nicely finished at door openings because the carpet will tend to unravel. Cut pile carpets like plushes need a pad as a shock absorber, otherwise it will just flatten out. Padded carpets need to be professionally installed. Figure about $200-250 including the pad for your 40 yards of carpet.

 

Loose? I'd skip the pad in that case.

 

If you are going to live on it, use pad.

 

Using a pad in a basement is never a good idea for IAQ rasons

 

I have installed for 40 years. Probably 90% of the basement carpet that I have installed with pad, has had no problems. Most that have had problems, it had nothing to do with the pad.

 

I see it once a week. The pad is the issue! It's a bad idea

 

I have been installing carpet and pad in basements since 1973. It's rare to have a problem. Have you ever installed?

 

I don't think padding would be necessary. Since you guys aren't going to be down their that much anyways right?

 

Nope never have installed. But I have had it removed on many homes for IAQ issues! Pads hold to much moisture and a basement in green grass areas is the last place you need a pad to hold moisture.

 

I think pad is fine if the basement is dry. That said, how many really are?

However, given that the carpet is being put down loose, I would not pad it.

 

In 24 years in the flooring business, I've never had a customer mention a problem with moisture retention in basement padding negatively affecting indoor air quality, provided the basement is dry and free of leaks. Plenty of problems with moisture in basements, mind you, but in these cases, I give my standard answer, "fix the water issue, and then we'll talk about carpet." I would, however, avoid padding with a moisture barrier in any basement, because this will tend to trap moisture in the padding.

 

If the carpet is laid down loose, using a pad will make it bunch up easier would it not?

Maybe just lay it loose with no pad and some carpet tape.

If a history of basement getting wet, this would be my choice so it is easy to get back up if it gets wet.