Found out how much backing weight really matters after a call back in Portland

I had a job in Portland last fall where the carpet started rippling after three months. Customer was pissed, and I couldn't figure out what went wrong. I called the distributor and they asked what the backing weight was on the carpet I used. I had no clue, never even looked at that number before. Turns out the carpet I picked had a backing weight of 28 ounces, and for that commercial hallway I should have been at least 45. The distributor explained that lighter backing lets the carpet stretch out over time, especially with heavy foot traffic. Now I check that spec on every roll before I cut it. Has anyone else had a job fall apart because of a number you never thought to check?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_taylor7d ago

Backing weight of 28 ounces" - yeah that'll do it every time. I learned that lesson the hard way too after a job where the carpet started looking like a wrinkly shirt after just a few months. The distributor I called said anything under 40 ounces in a commercial space is basically asking for trouble. Now I treat backing weight like the most important number on the spec sheet. It's wild how such a small detail can make or break an entire install.

gavinwood7d ago

From my experience, a 28 ounce backing in commercial is usually fine if you're using a dense, high quality face fiber and the right cushion. Overbuilding the backing often just adds cost without solving the real problem, which is usually a bad pad or improper installation. I've seen 28 ounce stuff hold up for years in busy offices when the rest of the specs are done right.