How to Assess the Quality of Carpet Underlay: Factors to Consider for Long-Term Durability

 Many homeowners get caught up on the style, colour and material of their carpet, but it’s important to remember that what lies beneath your floor is just as crucial. Carpet underlay, a simple layer of material, shapes how your new carpet feels, wears and performs.

 Foam, rubber, felt and more

The Carpet Underlay sits between the concrete base of your home and the carpet, and it can be made from a number of different materials including foam, rubber, felt and more. The type of underlay you choose depends on the room you’re re-carpeting, your budget and your priorities, but there are some general guidelines that can help you find the perfect underlay for your project.

 Footsteps and furniture

Carpet underlay doesn’t just add comfort – it also significantly increases the lifespan of your carpet and offers several other benefits. It improves the acoustics of your room by absorbing noise from footsteps and furniture, helps to prevent mould, provides insulation and so much more.

Minimizes indentation marks from furniture - Underlay is designed to minimise the indentations caused by heavy furnishings, ensuring your new carpet looks great for longer.

 Shock absorber, protecting

Increases the life of your carpet - Carpet underlay acts as a shock absorber, protecting the pile from crushing and extending its lifespan.

Insulation - Underlay is often thicker than the carpet itself, meaning it provides excellent thermal insulation.Reducing noise - Underlay can dramatically reduce the level of sound that travels between floors, making it a smart option for homes with young children or pets.

Choosing the right underlay is an easy process if you work with a qualified flooring professional. They will discuss your priority areas such as comfort, acoustics and heat conservation to recommend the best underlay for you.

 Thickness and density

Carpet underlay is usually priced by thickness and density (how much foam is packed into each cubic metre), with higher values generally providing better quality. Some examples of underlay available on the market include re-bond foam, SBR latex, crumb rubber and wool felt.

Conclusion

While it is tempting to save some money and re-use existing Carpet Underlay , this can cause damage during installation and compromise the warranty of your new carpet. It can also harbour dirt and dust, which is bad for the longevity of your new carpet and can affect its performance. For these reasons, it is highly recommended to purchase a fresh underlay from your retailer when you re-carpet your home.