If you’re planning to fit carpet, it’s vital that you choose the best underlay. It will help to protect your flooring and keep it looking soft and comfortable, while also providing sound insulation.

Best underlay is not something that’s commonly thought about when fitting a new floor, but it can have a huge impact on the overall look and feel of your room. It can help to prevent moisture and damp from damaging your floor and will also act as a thermal insulator, keeping your home warmer at a fraction of the cost of a solid or wood floor.

Step Up Your Comfort: Finding the Perfect Underlay for Your Home Flooring

The type of underlay you choose will depend on the type of carpet you have chosen and how it will be used. For example, a wool carpet will need a natural underlay such as felt to protect it and prevent it from flattening over time. It will also need to be a bit more resilient than a low-priced underlay, and it will be even more important that it has good sound reduction properties.

One of the best underlays for carpet is a crumb rubber product such as Duralay or Tredaire. This underlay is made from ‘crumbs’ of recycled car tyres which makes it hard-wearing and super strong. It can shrug off furniture impressions with ease and is an excellent choice for high traffic areas such as hallways or stairs. It’s not as soft underfoot as a foam underlay though, and it may take longer to recover from heavy furniture marks.