Abstract: The method for coating textile substrates such as carpets and textile fabrics with a latex backing is improved by replacing up to about 40% by weight of the normally employed latex solids in the coating composition with an alkali metal silicate extender such as sodium silicate, and further adding a latex compatible metal compound which will react with the silicate extender to render the silicate values less water soluble. The improved backing layer provides a significant cost reduction, increased fire retardancy and beneficial modification of other properties of the coated substrate.