floor padding RESOLVED

[4uall]

did some searches and came across this product http://www.yourautotrim.com/thercarpad.html does anyone have any experience with this? how much to order? alternate padding? Canadian retailers? thanks in advance

[baltobernie]

I used it on my Spider restoration, and I'm happy with the results. Buy two yards. Attach with dots of general-purpose spray adhesive. Foil side towards you. Remove Fiat jute padding before installation, or the console, etc. will not fit.

[4uall]

Thanks Baltobernie. Just wanted some first hand reactions. looks like the shipping is more than the product Getting small rust hole repaired in the New year then will look to order.

[azruss]

look for an upholstery supply house. they will carry the stuff

[RRoller123]

I am curious as to why the manufacturers all seem to recommend installation with the foil down, but every restoration I have seen on the forum is with the foil up? The manufacturers say that the foil down better reflects heat out of the passenger compartment. I am guessing that most/all members want the foil up to repel any water that may intrude? I would be very interested to hear comments on this. Pete.

[4uall]

this is what they post on their website

Installation:
Install the foil side DOWN, when used in the floor of a vehicle.
Install the foil side UP, when used in a headliner application of a vehicle.

[RRoller123]

Right, and literally every restoration photo I have seen has the foil up on the floor, i.e towards the passenger compartment, opposite the manufacturer's recommendation. Not sure why we do this? Pete

[4uall]

defiance? LMFAO!

[azruss]

Here is my subjective take. just looking at the material, foil up would be logical as that looks like a more wear resistant surface than the mat side. For moisture, i would think foil down works better. The issue is water getting past the foil around the edges and wicking into the mat. Now it doesnt have any surface to evaporate out, so it sits and stinks up the car. With the cat under the PS seat, foil down will help keep the floors cool unless my wife, who is perpetually cold, is riding there and would love the heat. For Arizona, i would think foil down is the way to go.

[RRoller123]

It seems like small amounts of water would be stopped by the foil barrier, so from that standpoint it makes sense to have the foil up. But if larger amounts of water get in (through open windows, leaking heater, etc.) water would probably get past the foil and down into the mat and then it seems to me that we would have one big mess on our hands. Unlikely for it to dry out, as it would probably wick into the matting material. It would probably smell terrible and promote rust, although sealing the floor before the mat application could preclude that. I see that most of you do the floor up very well before the mat goes down. I don't want to be a PITA, I haven't used this material yet but I plan to in the Spring when it warms up around here. Just not sure why I see almost all of them with the foil up. (?) Pete.

[aj81spider]

I think it actually depends on the stuff you install. Dynamat is supposed to be installed shiny side up. This stuff shiny side down. I suspect the pictures you have seen have not been of this stuff.

[RRoller123]

Interesting. I see the Dyna folks have a variety of products that look pretty good. They claim no water absorption so it is probably a closed cell poly. (The Dynapad). In our cars I would think that heat control trumps road noise, as there is so much noise coming in from every which way. Keeping that heat out from below is probably more important. Good info. Thanks.

[boogiedude]

Dynamat is actually a tar like sheet with a foil backing. Thick, heavy goop not foam. That up there is an actual carpet padding, dynamat is purely a sound deadner/insulator.

[124JOE]

well witch ever one you get
lay a conner on a flat hard suface and poke it with your thumb nail
like a foil seal on a bottle
if it brakes then foil side down
if its sticky on the reverse then id put it down"less work"
the pass side floor board is known to get a bath of antifreeze now and then
so seal it up real good

[baltobernie]

My bad

I installed it according to directions, I just forgot what they were! Checked this AM, foil side down.