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 Frequently Asked Questions
For your information we have listed the following information, which we hope will assist you in choosing the correct product for your specific requirements.
1. Can I lay a new carpet on my existing underlay?
2. Why use Carpet Underlay?
3. Do all carpets require underlay?
4. What benefit will I get from choosing a firm underlay?
5. I've been informed that felt underlay is a good type but is not widely available in retail outlets, why?
6. I have underfloor heating, which underlay should I use?
7. Which underlay has the best thermal properties?
8. What is the difference between sound insulation and sound absorption?
9. I want an underlay that has excellent sound reduction?
10. Which are your thickest and softest underlays available?
11. Which is the best underlay for a concrete floor?
12. What are the best underlays to use on stairs?
13. Which underlay do you recommend to use over wooden floorboards?
14. What is the difference between waffle rubber and crumb rubber?
15. Do you sell part bags of underlays?
16. I live in a 1st floor flat with wooden floor boards, I want to install a new floor using floor boards to create a new surface, can I install an underlay in between and if so can I fix it to through the underlay using nails?
17. What depth do I need to allow for fixing a matwell frame?
1. Can I lay a new carpet on my existing underlay?
In our opinion it is false economy to fit new carpet over old underlay. Carpet needs to have as firm a support as possible in order to achieve its maximum performance. An old underlay will already have become flattened and less resilient to a greater or lesser extent depending on its use and will not give the carpet adequate support.
2. Why use Carpet Underlay?
When installing a new carpet, carpet underlay is a vital component. We have listed below for you the main reasons why this is so to help you with your carpet underlay selection.
Sound Insulation
The installation of underlay reduces sound not only in the room itself but also the transference of sound to the room below.
Heat Insulation
By using carpet underlay you are providing an additional layer of insulation, which reduces the heat loss through floorboards and also reduces under floor draughts.
Dust Insulation
The underlay acts as a barrier by reducing the flow of air, thereby reducing the dust particles carried by the air.
Comfort
Carpet underlay produces an extra softness to the feel of the floor, regardless of the quality and thickness of the carpet.
Appearance
The carpet underlay absorbs all the wear and tear keeping your carpet looking better for longer.
Carpet Fitting
The majority of domestic carpets are fitted using a method whereby the carpet is stretched onto carpet grippers. The use of underlay is therefore practical as it raises the level of the floor in line with the gripper pins, which enhances the finished look of the fitted carpet.
Minimises furniture indentations
Underlay supports a carpet and therefore helps to prevent furniture from spoiling the look of your carpet.
Carpets are installed on a wide variety of underlays and whilst we know that in the majority of cases an acceptable performance of carpet and underlay may be achieved, careful choice of underlay can actually enhance the performance of the carpet. We acknowledge that there is a balance to be achieved between providing the right underfoot comfort and the right support to the carpet.
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3. Do all carpets require underlay?
Woven Carpets
These do not have a cushioned backing and therefore underlay is essential.
Secondary backed Carpets
These are the most common carpets used in the domestic market. The backing is either a polypropylene mesh or hessian and therefore has no cushioning. Underlay is therefore essential.
Felt backed carpets
These carpets have a thin felt back and are often sold described as having in built underlay. However they offer little in the way of the benefits listed above and we would recommend therefore that they be placed in top of an underlay with a smooth surface.
Foam Backed Carpets
Underlays are not recommended for use with these types of carpets.
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4. What benefit will I get from choosing a firm underlay?
Benefits of Firmer underlays
These give added protection to the carpet against the hard sub-floor during normal walking.
Indentations from furniture will be less severe where the carpet is fitted on a firm underlay.
Firmer underlays will prevent excessive vertical movement and stretching of the carpet in use and will therefore help to prevent rucking problems.
Comments on Softer underlays
Soft, low density underlays do not give as much support in heavy wear areas as the carpet pile is effectively squashed against the sub-floor, accelerating wear and appearance changes.
A softer product could eventually collapse under excessive pressure and allow the carpet backing to be distorted, preventing good recovery and making furniture indentations more severe.
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5. I have been informed that felt underlay is a good type but not widely available in retail outlets, why?
You are well informed. Felt underlay is a more traditional type and a 42oz weight is used widely in commercial installations because it is hard wearing and firm whilst providing exceptional support to the carpet. It is environmentally friendly as it is made from 100% recycled fibres, and has excellent thermal and acoustic insulation properties. The main reason you do not often see it available in retail stores these days is because it is not as aesthetically pleasing as more modern rubber and PU underlays and also carpet fitters have to spend more time installing it which ultimately eats into the retailers profits.
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6. I have underfloor heating, which underlay should I use?
You are limited to the types and styles of underlay available based upon the tog rating. The combined tog for the carpet and underlay should not exceed 2.5tog. We sell a range of underlays specifically designed for use with underfloor heating for carpets, laminates and contract use. Please seek advice from the manufacturer of the heating system first as the underlay you purchase could effect the performance of your system. We recommend Heat Flow Laminate, Carpet & Contract by Tredaire, these are a range of specially designed underlays to be used in conjunction with underfloor heating systems when installed under wood/laminates and carpets. Envirolay 28 felt can also be used as it has an open cell structure and will allow heat to transfer through it easily.
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7. Which underlay has the best thermal properties?
We recommend an underlay with the highest Tog Rating such as Cloud 9 Cirrus, Cumulus, Tredaire Softwalk & Dreamwalk. Whilst we do not yet have the Tog Rating for Envirolay 42 & 54 felt underlays we would strongly recommend these as felt underlays have a high wool content which naturally have excellent thermal insulation properties.
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8. What is the difference between sound insulation and sound absorption?
When airborne sound arrives at the surface of a wall or floor, some of it is reflected back as an echo, and some of it is transmitted. The remainder is converted into other forms of energy within the material, principally heat. This is known as sound absorption. When airborne sound arrives at one surface of, for example, a floor, some of it is reflected back as an echo, some of it is converted into other forms of energy within the material of the body, and the remainder is transmitted through the material to be radiated as airborne sound on the other side, but at a reduced level. The degree to which this reduction takes place is the sound insulation provided by the floor.
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9. I want an underlay that has excellent sound reduction?
The majority of our underlays listed show the noise reduction properties in terms of dB so that you can make comparisons between the different products. The higher the figure, the greater the noise reduction. Please note that all our acoustic sound insulation figures are based on impact sound and not airborne sound. We recommend Cloud 9 Cumulus (43dB) and Tredaire Dreamwalk (46dB).
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10. Which are your thickest and softest underlays available?
We would recommend using Cloud 9 Cumulus and Dreamwalk by Tredaire, as both these underlays are 11mm thick and provide a soft and luxurious feel underfoot and both are guaranteed for the lifetime of the carpet when used in recommended areas. Incidentally the Cloud 9 range by Ball & Young has been voted the favourite underlay by the UK Flooring Industry over the last few years.
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11. Which is the best underlay for a concrete floor?
It depends on your budget but we would recommend an underlay with a higher Tog Rating as this will provide excellent thermal insulation and prevent the transfer of heat through the underlay. It will also help reduce cold air transferring through the underlay from the concrete floor. We recommend Cloud 9 Cirrus, Cumulus, Tredaire Softwalk & Dreamwalk, and Envirolay 42 & 54 Underlays.
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12. What are the best underlays to use on stairs?
Carpet laid over stair nosings suffers the heaviest wear in the home. The construction of the carpet is of paramount importance, however, underlays play a very important role. This is primarily to increase the radius over the nosing thus reducing wear concentration. Flat firm underlays offer the best protection such as Envirolay 42 & 54 Felt, Cloud 9 Cumulus, Treadaire Dreamwalk and Duralay Tredmore.
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13. Which underlay do you recommend to use over wooden floorboards?
All our carpet underlays are ideal for use over wooden floor boards, there is a large choice depending on your budget but generally with rubber underlays and felt underlays the heavier the weight the better the quality and with PU underlays the thicker the quality the better product.
14. What is the difference between waffle rubber and crumb rubber?
 Waffle rubber underlays gain their name from the pattern on the underside of the underlay, which creates small air pockets that help to provide both comfort and insulation. Whilst waffle underlays make use of trapped air, crumb-rubber underlays are constructed from small particles of rubber moulded together to produce dense and highly resilient carpet underlays. Crumb-rubber is produced by recycling old car tyres that are then granulised and re-processed.
15. Do you sell part bags of underlays?
At this time we do not offer a cutting service to provide part roll sizes however please contact us and we may be able to offer a price for part rolls which will include a cutting/handling charge.
16. I live in an 1st floor flat with wooden floor boards, I want to install a new floor using floor boards to create a new surface, can I install an underlay in between and if so can I fix it to through the underlay using nails?
All our wood/laminate underlays are recommended for use under floating floor installations such as laminates where there is no direct fixing to the sub floor required. If you intend to use an underlay under your new floorboards you will reduce the impact sound reduction qualities by fixing with nails. We recommend you seek advise from building regulations as there maybe repercussions in a flat environment if you have someone living below.
17. What depth do I need to allow for fixing a matwell frame?
You need to allow for a minimum depth of 17mm from your floor surface so that the matwell frame is not raised up and the 17mm coir matting will sit inside the frame without protruding out of it. If the depth is higher than 17mm you may need to pack it out under the matting to raise it to the required height.
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