We mentioned in our previous blog about underlays and how necessary they are to help your carpet/flooring stay looking great. So we thought that details of the most common varieties, plus what and where they are used for would be helpful.
Most people remember the old rubber (the waffle pattern) underlay. This and felt underlay used to be the only options available. It has gone slightly out of favour in recent years as new materials have come onto the market. Fitters like the lighter weight of the new sorts as rubber is very heavy to carry flights of stairs! But rubber still has its place; it gives excellent comfort and superb spring.
Rubber Crumb – like the rubber waffle it is in itself very heavy and so gives excellent support for carpets that are subjected to a lot of traffic and wear. It is especially good on stairs (over the nosings).
PU (polyurethane) Foam - this type of foam sandwich underlay had really taken over from rubber. Often made up from recycled foam offcuts and can be recycled, offering reasonable environmental credentials. You choose from a great selection of depths and densities to give you more ‘squidge’ or ‘solidity’ so they are great for choice. They also do not disintegrate over the long term, (like rubber can). This means that they can be less susceptible to compacting under heavy wear areas or furniture.
Felt - probably the most traditional of all the underlays. It forms a thick mat of fibres recycled from offcuts of carpet, jute or synthetic fibres from the production of carpets. This is great for insulation, sound deadening and great support for the heavier types of carpet such as woven Axminster carpets.
In a nutshell the type you should choose depends on:
- the area you need it in
- the wear levels in that area
- the type of carpet you are putting it under
- personal taste… do you like to feel some bounce or do you prefer a solid feel to your carpet?
Most people don’t realise the choice and impact of underlay. But don’t worry… we’re here to help! Contact us and we can advise you on the right underlay for your home.
