Is a Moisture Barrier Carpet Padding Worth It?

By Samuel N •  Updated: 10/24/22 • 

Protecting your floors from damage caused by water and moisture could save you on the money spent to repair and renovate them. A moisture barrier carpet padding is one of the easiest and fastest ways of keeping liquids from reaching the floor.

If you’re planning to get a moisture barrier carpet padding, you are in the right place. Here I’ll show you how important a moisture barrier carpet padding is and its pros and cons. Enjoy.

What is a Moisture Barrier Carpet Padding?

A moisture barrier padding is a floor padding with a layer preventing liquids from sipping through to the floor. Moisture barrier carpet paddings are great for parents with little children and pet owners.

A Moisture barrier carpet padding is effective against small spills, like pet urine. It also makes cleaning up spills easier and protects your floor from water damage.

Children and pets don’t talk, and if they were able to, you could be saved from using carpet padding. However, because this is not the case, an accidental leak by a pet or milk spill by a child will be stopped from reaching your floors by carpet padding.

Pros of a Moisture Barrier Carpet Padding

1. Prevent Floor Damage

Hardwood and other wood floors are the most likely culprit to be destroyed by water damage. If water or liquid spills on your wood floors, you should mop them or dry them immediately to minimize the water damage on your floors. However, drying the liquid could take some time if you have a carpet.

Water Spill on a Floor

Water Spill on a Floor

A moisture barrier carpet padding is the best option if your home has a carpet. Instead of removing the whole carpet, a moisture barrier helps keep the liquid from sipping into the floor. This prevents warping, cupping, buckling, or even permanent floor damage if left unchecked.

2. Protect Wood From Rotting

Even after treating wood, if it stays wet long enough, it can start rotting in the worst case. However, lingering liquid can also weaken it or stain the wood. A damaged wood floor will get squeaky over time or fail structurally. This will depend on how much liquid is spilled and how long it stays there.

Although pet and children spills might not seem much, over time, they can stain your floors or cause damage that can cost you to repair.

3. Keeps Mold at Bay

Mold thrives in damp and moisture-ridden areas. If a liquid is left unchecked for a more extended period, mold not only forms but also weakens the wood. Mold can also release its spores into the air. This can aggravate some allergies and also smell unpleasant.

Mold Growing on a Floor

Mold Growing on a Floor

Once mold starts to grow in your home, it can be challenging to manage. A moisture barrier can offer protection to some degree.

Samuel N

Samuel N is the founder of Improve Floor and has been in the flooring industry since 2005. Since then, his mission has been to make flooring easier for everyone. He helps countless people with flooring installation, finishing, maintenance, and repairs each year.