Underlay is a barrier that sits beneath your flooring, providing several benefits for your flooring and home. Some make it easier to lay your flooring, and can help to level minor imperfections in your subfloor. The main purpose of underlay is to protect your home from losing heat by providing insulation and it also acts as a moisture barrier.
We keep a wide range of underlay constructed of a variety of materials to suit your choice of floor and your application. It’s important to understand the different types of underlay and which one is best suited to your new floor. Here are a few tips which should help you figure out which underlay you need.
Carpets
A thin carpet should ideally have a thick underlay to increase the comfort and insulation qualities, and will also help to prolong the life of your carpet. A thick carpet can be laid with no underlay but at least a thin underlay is advisable, again to increase the comfort levels.
Laminate & Wood Floor Underlay
Laminate and wood floors have a tendency to warp and swell if they’re exposed to a lot of moisture. In some cases it’s important to have an underlay with a damp proof membrane to prevent this from happening. Underlay can also add an element of thermal insulation and some are particularly suited to keeping your home warm, and saving you money on heating bills. In other cases where you need acoustic underlay, it can help to reduce sound from travelling through floors in situations where flooring is being fitted above wooden floorboards or in flats and apartments.
Underfloor Heating
In the case where you might have underfloor heating it’s important to not only choose a suitable floor covering but the correct underlay also needs to be selected. Underlay for underfloor heating allows airflow to pass through allowing the heat to make it’s way to the surface and stops the underlay from overheating.
If you have any further questions about which underlay you need, don’t hesitate to get in touch.