Whether you’re replacing worn-out flooring in your family home, or you’ve just moved somewhere new and are giving the place a refresh, carpet is an excellent choice.
If you’ve been shopping around though, you’ll know that it can be an expensive one.
Spending so much money, it’s only natural to want to protect your investment, and installing a high-quality carpet underlay is one of the best ways you can do this.
However, many people see carpet underlay as an unnecessary additional expense, and end up skipping out to free up some money in their budgets.
We often get asked if it’s really an essential purchase, or if it’s possible to go without. So in this post, our experts aim to give you the answer once and for all, and help you understand the importance of underlay for your new carpet.
What is carpet underlay?
Put simply, carpet underlay is an additional layer placed beneath your new carpet before it’s installed.
Sitting between your subfloor and carpet, it provides a protective, insulating barrier and acts as an excellent shock absorber.
There’s a range of underlay products on the market, that are available in a variety of materials, including PU foam, crumb rubber and sponge rubber, and thicknesses ranging from 6mm-12mm and beyond!
Is carpet underlay always necessary?
No, carpet underlay isn’t always necessary, but it comes highly recommended by carpet fitters for a multitude of different reasons.
Ultimately, though, the need for carpet underlay depends largely on the type of carpet you choose.
Some carpets have felt, rubber felt, or foam backings that act as a built-in layer of protection, so there’s no need to install an underlay if this is the case.
However, if your carpet has a textile or latex backing, underlay is a non-negotiable add-on to avoid uneven surfaces and premature wear.
What are the benefits of installing carpet underlay?
Aside from providing unmatched protection for your carpet, there are many ways you can benefit from installing a carpet underlay, including:
- Smoother installation
Laying underlay before having your carpet fitted smooths out your subfloor and minimises any imperfections – provides a level surface for your carpet to be laid on top of.
- Reduced noise
Carpet underlay, as we’ve mentioned, acts as a shock absorber, which can help reduce impact sound from footsteps, voices and moving furniture, with some underlays reducing these noises by up to 40dB!
This is especially useful for the upper floors of your home, and you can keep everyone – including the neighbours – happy.
- Improved comfort
With the additional layer of cushioning that carpet underlay provides, you can say goodbye to hard, uncomfortable floors and hello to an uber-comfortable, luxurious underfoot feeling!
Generally, when it comes to carpets, the thicker the underlay the better, but if you’re unsure about what will work best, don’t hesitate to seek expert advice.
- Increased warmth
With a barrier between the subfloor and carpet, you’ll be able to keep heat in and the cold out, which leads us to our next point…
- Reduced energy bills
Studies have shown that installing a high-quality thermal carpet underlay can, potentially, reduce your heating bill by up to 15%, by trapping cold air and preventing heat from escaping. So although the upfront cost is higher, investing in a quality underlay pays in the long run.
How to choose the perfect carpet underlay
Plushwalk 8mm Carpet Underlay
With so many different underlays on the market, it can be difficult to decide which is right for your new carpet and home.
To help you choose, you should consider the type of carpet you’ll be installing, the type and condition of your subfloor, and the room in which you’re laying your carpet.
Our top recommendation, here at Tradepriced, is always the Plushwalk 10mm or 12mm. Boasting excellent sound reduction capabilities, thermal insulation and many other qualities, these underlays are the perfect all-rounders for any carpet installation.
If you’re planning to install underfloor heating with your new carpet, our ThermalStream Underfloor Heating Carpet Underlay is the ideal choice, offering unmatched underfoot comfort, fast heat transfer and incredible impact sound reduction, reducing sounds by up to 46dB!
Shop top-quality carpet underlay at Tradepriced!
It’s clear to see that carpet underlay is much more than an additional expense.
Here at Tradepriced, we supply a huge collection of high-quality carpet underlays – including Wilsons, Tredaire, and Duralay underlays – that are the ideal pairing for your new carpet.
For help choosing the best underlay for your flooring project, get in touch with our expert team today, or browse and shop our collection of carpet underlay online!
