What is the best underlay for carpet?

Consumer Advice

Buying Underlay?

Buying new carpet and underlay for the home is a serious investment that gives it a new look and feel. But with so many options available for the consumer to purchase, it can make the buying process extremely confusing. Knowing what constitutes a quality product, and the features to look for are extremely important if you are going to make the right choice.

So what is the best underlay for carpet?

Consumer Advice

Integral Ingredient
Underlay is an integral ingredient that shapes the way your floorcovering will feel, wear, and look long-term.

Low-density foam underlays either cheap or expensive, with a density of less than 110kg/m3 will quickly lose their resilience. It is important to note that if your underlay flattens quickly, the pile of your carpet will also flatten
Thermal Insulation
Improving the insulation for a home and ensuring it stays warm and dry during the cold winter months is usually a top priority for many families, and with the cost of living increasing, having an energy efficient living environment is important if you want to reduce those expensive monthly energy bills.

Look for an underlay with an R-Value higher than R.30 (NZ) or a TOG rating of 3.0 (UK), and the thicker and denser the underlay, the better. The most effective options for holding the heat are foam underlayment's due to the intrinsic insulation properties of the material, trapping the warm air in and keeping the cold air out.
Sound Insulation
Impact noise and footfall in multi-level homes and apartments is typically caused by the sound of footsteps, playing children, and objects that have been dropped on the floor above. The noise generated from these actions is dispersed throughout the property, causing disruption and/or frustration for those people below.

When it comes to reducing impact sound and footfall a quality underlay is your best and most cost-effective option. Look for an underlay that is no less than 11mm in thickness and between 120kg/m3 and 130kg/m3 in density. Make sure that the underlay also has a dB (decibel rating) no lower than 44dB.
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What Is The Best Underlay For Carpet

Carpet Construction

The construction of a carpet is also important for long-term appearance retention. There are 4 key factors you should concentrate on.

They are the twist rate, the gauge, the thickness of the linear density of the fibre used in manufacturing the product, and whether the yarn is heat set at the tip. The higher the twist rate, the better. Anything over 220 twist per yarn metre is satisfactory, 280 + is recommended, with a 1/10th gauge stitch.

Floorcovering Installation Guide

Consumer Advice

Soft to Touch
The softer the feel of your new carpet, the less resilience the fibre will have. In this case, you will need to compromise on overall long-term appearance if a super soft feel is your goal.
Regular Maintenance
An important step in caring for your floorcovering is regular vacuuming. Vacuum thoroughly and frequently particularly in high traffic areas. A good quality vacuum cleaner is vital to prolonging the life of your product. Use a quality vacuum cleaner, fitted with a power-driven rotating brush.

A light vacuum is recommended at least twice a week with the brush turned off, and then a thorough vacuum performed weekly, with the brush turned on. Do not leave the brush running on the carpet if the vacuum is unattended as it may damage the products pile.
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Vacuum Cleaner On The Carpet

Have a specific requirement?

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