How Carpet Underlay Enhances Your Flooring: Exploring the Importance and How It Works

 The right carpet can transform a room, making it feel comfortable and cosy. It is easy to focus on selecting the carpet style and colour, but it is important not to overlook the underlay which plays a significant role in how your carpet feels, wears and performs.

 It serves a number of vital purposes

Carpet underlay is the layer of material which goes underneath your carpet before it is laid. It serves a number of vital purposes, including insulation and under-foot cushioning. It also helps to reduce noise transmission and can help to protect the subfloor against damage. It is available in a range of thicknesses and densities to suit different purposes, with thinner underlay ideal for high traffic areas and thicker underlay better suited to bedrooms or lounges.

 Felt underlay is popular due to its natural fibres

Traditionally, carpet underlay is made from rubber, felt or polyurethane foam, with modern underlays manufactured from recycled post-industrial materials improving sustainability and reducing waste. Felt underlay is popular due to its natural fibres which are environmentally friendly and do not release volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Rubber underlay has seen a decline in recent years with superior products such as PU foam and new wool underlay offering greater support, comfort and thermal insulation.

Ability to keep the carpet away from the concrete floor

A key benefit of underlay is its ability to keep the carpet away from the concrete floor, which extends its lifespan and enhances its performance. It also prevents moisture soaking through the underlay and into the subfloor, which can cause damp and mould issues. Underlay is an ideal partner for stain-resistant carpets such as Stainmaster or Westminster by Belgotex, helping to maintain the quality and integrity of your flooring.

In addition to its practical benefits, underlay is a great addition to a home’s décor, introducing a softness that is hard to match with other flooring. It is also a cost-effective way to upgrade the comfort of a room without having to re-fit existing furnishings or purchase expensive acoustic products.

 The most important benefit of underlay is the feeling it creates underfoot

For many homeowners, however, the most important benefit of underlay is the feeling it creates underfoot. Choosing the right underlay will make your carpet feel luxurious and cosy, especially if you choose a thicker option which offers increased cushioning.

Conclusion

With so many options to consider, it can be difficult to decide what underlay is best for your project. We recommend seeking advice from a professional flooring specialist who can offer an expert opinion and guide you towards the most suitable product for your unique circumstances. For example, if you plan on having furniture in the room then a dense underlay such as crumb rubber is ideal to avoid your Carpet Underlay being permanently indented.