Underlay - The Things You Need To Know
When buying an expensive carpet or laminate flooring, many purchasers get so carried away with the overall look that they totally ignore the underlay. This is a big mistake. A top quality underlay will not only give you that soft, springy feeling beneath your feet, but it will also protect your investment by dramatically increasing carpet life.
Other benefits are improved heat insulation,
which should help lower your utility bills, while special acoustic underlays are great at blocking out those unwanted sounds.
What type of underlay?
Underlay for carpets comes in many forms. The most common is the rubber waffle type, and its cousin the rubber crumb. Another popular choice is polyurethane foam (PU foam), a big favourite with carpet fitters because of its light weight, and being easy to manipulate, cut, and fit. Wool felt underlay tends to be found in offices, where there is a need for good acoustic properties and long life. Whichever underlay you choose, it pays to buy the very best you can afford. You won't regret it.
When installing laminate or wood flooring, the underlay options are similar. The only major difference being that, when laying laminate over concrete, the underlay should incorporate a damp proof membrane (DPF). Some underlays include this, but it is always good to check.
Prepare your floors and install
No matter which type of underlay you are installing, good floor preparation is essential. The floor needs to be smooth, dry and clean. Vacuum or sweep thoroughly and, if necessary, get rid of any protruding nails. You are now ready to install the underlay!
· Nail the carpet gripper around the edge of the room, leaving a 10-15mm gap, wide enough so that the carpet will tuck neatly into this space.· Rubber underlay should be laid with the waffle side on the floor and the backing uppermost. When using polyurethane foam underlay, the coloured side should lie face down on the floor, so that the foam meets the carpet.· Ensure that the underlay extends a couple of centimetres beyond the carpet gripper.· The rolls of underlay need to be fitted closely to one another, but not overlap. · Once everything is lined-up correctly, staple the underlay to the floor along the inside of the gripper, and then trim the excess underlay with a sharp utility knife. The final step is to seal the seams with a special underlay tape. This serves a dual purpose. It will prevent unsightly lines showing through on your carpet, and also keep the underlay in place when the carpet is being laid on top.
When installing underlay for wooden or laminate flooring, the floor preparation is even more critical. The surface must be completely level and clean. On concrete, install the underlay with the DPF facing the floor. Use enough underlay to ensure a surplus of 3-5cms all round the floor and extending up the walls. The seams are then sealed with tape. Once the laminate has been laid in place, the excess underlay can be trimmed off, giving a neat finish.
