What Underlay Is Best For Carpet?
[A Carpet Underlay Guide]

What Is The Best Type Of Underlay For My Carpet?

Choosing the best underlay for your carpet is an essential step in ensuring comfort, durability, and energy efficiency in your home. Whether you are laying carpet in your living room, bedroom, or other spaces, understanding the different types of carpet underlays available can help you make an informed decision. This guide will explore various best underlays options and answer the question of “what underlay is best for carpet” while incorporating all relevant factors such as flooring types, thermal insulation, noise reduction, and specific underlay materials.

If you are looking for new carpet, flooring or carpet accessories such as underlays in Bristol, look no further than Carpet Hub. Speak to a member of the team on 0117 379 0764 or visit our showroom in Bitton, Bristol today.

Why Underlay Matters

The underlay is often overlooked, but it plays a crucial role in the overall performance of your carpet. A good quality underlay acts as a shock absorber, providing a soft underfoot feel and helping to prolong the life of your carpet. It also offers thermal insulation, noise reduction, and comfort.

When selecting an underlay, it’s important to consider factors such as the room’s purpose, the type of flooring, and any specific needs like underfloor heating or heavy furniture. Let’s dive into the types of underlays available, and how they meet these needs.

Types of Underlay

1. Foam Underlay

Foam underlay is one of the most popular options available, particularly PU foam underlay, which is made from recycled furniture foam. It offers excellent softness, providing that lovely soft feeling underfoot many homeowners desire. PU foam is also lightweight and easy to install. It is suitable for most areas in the home, including living rooms and bedrooms.

If you are looking for a good quality underlay that provides thermal insulation and comfort underfoot, PU foam is an excellent choice buy carpet underlay. It is especially effective when paired with new carpets, as it helps to extend the lifespan of the carpet and maintain its luxurious feel. The thickest underlay options available in foam provide additional shock absorption, making it ideal for areas where heavy furniture will be placed.

Foam underlays come in varying thicknesses and tog ratings. A correct underlay with higher tog rating indicates better thermal resistance, making it suitable for colder rooms where retaining heat is a priority. However, if you plan to use underfloor heating, you’ll want a low tog rating to allow the heat to pass through effectively.

2. Rubber Underlay

Rubber underlay is a durable option, offering both comfort and long-lasting performance. There are two main types of rubber underlay: sponge rubber and crumb rubber underlay.

Sponge rubber underlay is widely used due to its versatility and excellent thermal insulation. It’s available in various densities, and thicker options offer greater comfort underfoot. If you’re looking for that lovely cushioned feeling, a high-quality sponge rubber underlay will be perfect.

Crumb rubber underlay, on the other hand, is made from recycled car tyres and is incredibly durable. It is an extremely durable option, particularly suited for high-traffic areas or where you need additional shock absorption. Crumb rubber provides good noise reduction and thermal resistance, making it an ideal underlay choice for busy households or rooms where sound control is essential.

Both sponge rubber and crumb rubber underlays are suitable for wool carpets and other woven carpets, offering longevity and enhanced comfort.

3. Felt Underlay

Felt underlay is another option provide thermal insulation, often used in homes with underfloor heating. Its natural fibers provide good quality thermal underlay, ensuring warmth without compromising on breathability. Felt underlay is also eco-friendly, as it can be made from recycled materials such as recycled rubber or recycled furniture foam.

For those interested in sustainable living, felt underlay is a fantastic option as it offers both thermal insulation and comfort. It is also highly compatible with luxury vinyl tiles and engineered wood, making it versatile for various flooring types.

4. Waffle Sponge Rubber

Waffle sponge rubber underlay is another type of rubber underlay that offers exceptional comfort. It has a textured surface that provides an added layer of shock absorption while maintaining a soft underfoot feel. It’s perfect for creating that luxurious feel in your living rooms and bedrooms, especially when paired with new carpets.

The waffle sponge rubber also offers noise reduction, so it’s an excellent choice for rooms where soundproofing is important, like home offices or upstairs rooms.

5. Crumb Rubber Underlay

As mentioned earlier, crumb rubber underlay is made from recycled car tyres and provides excellent durability. It is particularly beneficial in areas with heavy furniture or high foot traffic, such as hallways and entryways. The dense material offers great support and shock absorption, ensuring your new carpet stays in great condition for years.

Because of its extremely durable nature, crumb rubber is often chosen for commercial spaces but works equally well in residential settings where longevity and toughness are essential.

Thermal Insulation and Tog Ratings

When choosing an underlay, one of the key considerations is its tog rating, which measures the material’s thermal resistance. The higher the tog rating, the better the thermal insulation it provides. This is particularly important in colder climates or rooms where maintaining heat is crucial, such as bedrooms or living rooms.

However, if you are planning to install underfloor heating, you’ll need a low tog rating to allow heat to pass through existing underlay more efficiently. Underlays designed for use with underfloor heating have lower tog ratings and are made from materials that are compatible with radiant heat systems.

Noise Reduction

In addition to thermal benefits, good carpet underlay provides excellent noise reduction, which is particularly useful in multi-story homes or apartments. A good quality underlay can significantly reduce the sound of footsteps and other noises, creating a quieter, more peaceful environment. Rubber underlay, in particular, is known for its superior noise reduction properties, making it an ideal choice for living rooms or bedrooms.

If noise reduction is a priority, choosing a firm underlay made from materials like crumb rubber or sponge rubber is a smart move. These materials absorb sound better than other different types of underlay used, ensuring a quieter home environment.

Choosing the Right Underlay for Different Flooring Types

The right type of carpet underlay will depend on both the type of flooring and the type of carpet you are using. For example, when laying carpet over laminate flooring or engineered wood, you’ll need an underlay that offers sufficient cushioning while allowing for airflow. In contrast, if you’re using luxury vinyl tiles, a felt underlay may be the best choice due to its breathable nature and thermal efficiency.

Wool Carpets

For wool carpets, the underlay you choose is critical for maintaining the natural insulation properties of the wool carpet itself. Felt underlay or sponge rubber underlay works well with wool carpets, as both materials provide sufficient thermal resistance while allowing the carpet to breathe.

Replacing Old Underlay

When laying a new carpet, it’s important to remove any old underlay and replace it with fresh material. Old underlay can lose its cushioning properties over time, reducing both comfort and the lifespan of the carpet. By investing in a new thick underlay, you can improve the overall feel and performance of your new flooring.

Energy Efficiency and Cost Savings

A high-quality underlay can also help reduce your energy bills by improving your home’s thermal efficiency. By choosing an underlay with a high tog rating, you can better retain heat in your home, which can lead to long-term savings on heating costs.

In addition to the thermal benefits, a good quality underlay also prolongs the life of your carpet, saving you money in the long run. While the cheapest underlay may seem like an attractive option, investing in carpet cleaner a longer good quality underlay can offer better value over time by reducing the need for frequent carpet replacements.

Conclusion

When choosing the best carpet and underlay used for carpet, it’s important to consider the specific needs of your home, from thermal insulation to noise reduction and comfort. Whether you opt for foam underlay, sponge rubber underlay, or felt underlay, selecting the right material for your flooring types and room will ensure your carpet performs at its best for years to come. Remember to consider factors such as tog rating, shock absorption, and durability when making your decision, and always invest in a good quality underlay to get the most out of your new carpet.

What Underlay Is Best For Carpet? [A Carpet Underlay Guide]