Underlay
You will invest time and money selecting your new carpet so it makes sense to protect it with a good quality carpet underlay. Your underlay provides your carpet with essential support and we recommend that you buy the best quality underlay that your budget will allow.
Some carpets are manufactured with a felt back but most carpets are “hessian backed” or “secondary backed” and it is essential that they are fitted with a good underlay.
Underlay acts as a “shock absorber” between your new carpet and the sub floor. Sub floors have no “give”, so when you walk on a carpeted floor with no underlay, all of the pressure is absorbed by the pile of the carpet which will rapidly accelerate its wear.
At KRP Carpets and Vinyls we supply a range of quality carpet underlays that will make even the least expensive carpet feel cosy and comfortable, and will make heavier quality carpets feel luxurious!
Some carpets are manufactured with a felt back but most carpets are “hessian backed” or “secondary backed” and it is essential that they are fitted with a good underlay.
Underlay acts as a “shock absorber” between your new carpet and the sub floor. Sub floors have no “give”, so when you walk on a carpeted floor with no underlay, all of the pressure is absorbed by the pile of the carpet which will rapidly accelerate its wear.
At KRP Carpets and Vinyls we supply a range of quality carpet underlays that will make even the least expensive carpet feel cosy and comfortable, and will make heavier quality carpets feel luxurious!
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CARPET UNDERLAY TIPS AND ADVICE
Good underlay will…
- Improve underfoot comfort
- Increase appearance retention and reduce flattening
- Absorb the pressure of foot traffic and reduce wear
- Improve thermal insulation and warmth
- Increase sound insulation
- Smooth out sub-floor imperfections
- Last the lifetime of the carpet
Poor or old underlay will…
- Feel hard and unwelcoming
- Reduce carpet life
- Cause wrinkling and premature wear spots
- Cause carpet fibres to breakdown more quickly
- Not meet British Standards
The common domestic thickness is between 8mm and 11mm. A maximum of 11mm is recommended as working with gripper will be difficult thereafter. Rooms with extremely heavy traffic may benefit from a thinner, denser underlay. The combination of thickness and density is all important, as a thick underlay with a low density will not perform well.
- PU (polyurethane) Foam This is now the markets most popular underlay and is typically made from recycled foam offcuts. The foam provides excellent comfort and performance levels with lots of thickness options and densities and provides great insulation – it’s also lightweight which helps with handling.
- Sponge Rubber Introduced in the 1950’s, this is more traditionally manufactured underlay available in flat or waffle patterns in a wide range of weights for different applications. It performs well for comfort and has a durable spring retention.
- Underfloor heating underlay Do you have underfloor heating? Mmost manufacturers offer specialised products. Underlay and carpet with a combined tog rating of 2.5 can be used – which means underlay would normally have a tog rating of 1.0.
- Felt This traditional (but environmentally friendly) underlay is made from recycled fibres – wool, jute and synthetic – to create a firm, dense pad with excellent thermal insulation. Still a very popular choice when stretch fitting woven carpets.