What is Carpet Backing?

Carpet backing is exactly what it sounds like: the back of a carpet. It is the section of a carpet which does not face up, so consumers rarely interact with it. However, carpet backing is extremely important, providing shape, structural stability, and protection to the carpet it backs. There are a number of different styles of carpet backing, and it can be made from an assortment of materials, ranging from natural fibers to polyurethane. There are two main components to carpet backing, which can vary from carpet to carpet. The first is primary backing, which forms a structural element of the carpet. It is the coarse material through which the fibers of the carpet are woven or tufted. Secondary backing is not structural, but it provides support to the overall carpet, and it may help to insulate the carpet from moisture, bacteria, and mold which could seep up from the floor below; it tends to be less coarse, since it is not a substrate for tufted material. There are a number of things to ... more