Carpet Underlays

Types of carpet underlay

Since the carpet underlay plays a vital role in our carpeting, it is important to know the best type of underlay for our flooring because the right choice of underlay can enhance the luxurious level of barefoot walking. Here are the types of comfortable and budget-friendly carpet underlay:
● Foam Underlay:
A kind of new product in the underlay market that is manufactured using recycled sponge and foam and prepared. Then it is compressed with the help of steam into a big cylinder. After all of that contracting, it is precisely cut into classes with thicknesses ranging between 7mm and 12mm. It contains PU (polyurethane) foam, which makes it the most versatile, lightweight, and adjustable for difficult places like stairs at the same time.
● Sponge Underlay:
Sponge Underlay is one of the ancient underlays, as it was first manufactured in 1950. They are highly recommendable as they are comfortable, pleasant, and enjoyable. These underlays are particularly great at reducing the impact of sounds. To some extent, sponge underlay is extremely good at minimizing the thermal insulation effects as it has a tog of low rating, providing an adequate chance for heat to escape without overheating. For the best use, sponge underlays are assembled with styro butadiene synthetic rubber mixed with oil and fillers. This process is called “calendaring”. Following this process, the mix transforms into a smooth regular paste. After all this process, a chain rolls up all this paste to get a useful thickness.
● Crumb rubber:
This is almost a classic commodity on the market. Just as the name already gives a hint, this product is manufactured from tiny crumbs of rubber secured tightly. This is 100% pollution-free, environmentally friendly, and pocket-friendly as well. The used tires of automobiles are recycled to get these crumbs of rubber and make them eco-friendly. Crumb rubber underlay possesses high thermal insulation and reduces the influence of airborne noise. Above all, it is durable and can last a long time, enhancing the lifespan of the carpet. Although this underlay can be used at home and commercial levels, this underlay is specifically reasonable for high-traffic areas.
● Wool felt underlay
This is one of the conventional carpet underlays, which consists of nearly new or recycled fibers, wool, jute, and synthetics to offer a strong, impenetrable, and opaque base with admirable thermal insulation. Unlike many rubber-based carpet underlays, the wool underlay is more advantageous and usable as it does not collapse and crush heavy furniture and will last for many years. These underlays are also widely common and popular for their commercial and domestic use.
● Combination underlay:
Combination underlays particularly consist of two types of underlays and are a mixture of felt and rubber underlayments. These underlays possess the characteristics of both underlays. The lower part (base) consists of crumb rubber material, and the upper part has wool felt material.

Why use underlay for carpets?

An underlay maybe is a foam or felt material that you insert between your floor and carpet. It serves as a foundation for whatever flooring you choose for your home. You do not see an underlay, so it is not like something you cannot see is not important. Carpet underlay plays a vital role in your flooring as it enhances the lifespan of your floor and provides comfort for barefoot walking. At the same time, it remarkably helps to maintain the carpet and protect it from moisture. The carpet underlay acts as a shock absorber and muffles many sounds, such as footsteps or furniture movement. The carpet underlay acts as a soundproofing material as well. It is environment-friendly, retains insulation of flooring, and most importantly, it is cost-effective and saves a lot of money. In short, without underlayment, the carpet’s lifespan is shorter and the risk of wear and tear increases. Underlayment is particularly crucial if you have a plan for laying carpet on a concrete floor, as it helps you walk across the carpeted room comfortably.

Is carpet underlay necessary for a concrete floor?

Although some kinds of floors are naturally beautiful and do not need any kind of carpeting or other stuff. We can leave the surface uncovered. However, concrete floors, it does not look charming and eye-catching, so to make it alluring, someone may need floor carpeting. It is quite hard to lay carpet on concrete floors directly because of the concrete floor's humidity and moisture. So a carpet underlay is necessary for concrete floors. And when it comes to selecting a carpet underlay for concrete flooring, many people may choose foam underlay just because it costs less money, but foam underlay is not a good choice for concrete floors as foam underlay is spongy and penetrable. If you place it near moist material, it will quickly absorb all the moisture and may rot. With time, moisture can penetrate the carpet, making it wet and providing a breeding ground for fungus and bacteria. So for concrete floors, a crumb rubber carpet underlay is most suitable, as the rubber underlay will make the floor anti-bacterial.