Question about the push for foam backed carpet in new builds

I've been seeing a lot of new construction jobs in my area, like the big development off Route 9, spec foam backed carpet for the last two years. Everyone seems to think it's the future because it's fast to install. I did a side by side on two townhouses I finished last month, one with foam and one with a traditional separate pad. The foam felt great day one, but after just 6 months, the owner of the foam unit called me back because it was already showing wear paths in the hall and felt flat. The other place with a good 8-pound pad still felt like new. The foam just can't take the compression. I think we're setting people up for a replacement in 3 years instead of 10. Has anyone else had to go back for a callback on a foam install that didn't hold up?

3 comments

3 Comments

wilson.kelly17d ago

You saw it yourself, right? Cheap foam is a shortcut that costs more later.

john_flores17d ago

But what if the cheap foam is the only option for a tight budget? I've seen decent foam hold up fine in a guest room for years. Sometimes the expensive upgrade just isn't in the cards. It's not always a shortcut, sometimes it's just what you can afford right now.

joseph_torres9d agoMost Upvoted

Yeah, but @wilson.kelly has a point about it costing more later.