The importance of underlay flooring
Wednesday, 16 March 2011 7:23 PM
Whatever style of flooring you are planning to install in your home, it is vital that you fit underlay first.
Whether you plan to fit your own hardwood floors, carpet or laminates, flooring underlay is an absolute must to ensure that your finished floor looks as good as it is meant to.
It can be easy to get so caught up in DIY plans that you only think of the finished product and in a rush to get your floor down you may simply forget about fitting the underlay, or make the decision that it is not really necessary.
However, this would be a mistake and could lead to everyday wear and tear having a more damaging effect on your newly-laid floor.
Indeed, your work will keep looking like new for longer if you take the time to lay down this thin layer of material first, while your room will also benefit from increased comfort under foot, in addition to improved insulation, moisture-resistance and sound reduction.
Whatever flooring you plan to put down, you will find that there is an underlay for it.
Carpet underlay typically comes in either felt, foam or rubber and is designed to help your feet enjoy the ultimate in comfort when you walk across your new covering.
Popular makes of this product include Ball & Young along with Duralay, and the lining will help to prevent any problems with the newly-laid carpet from arising once you have fitted it.
Meanwhile, if you plan to kit out your room with a laminated or hardwood floor, make sure you choose the right underlay for it, whether it is foam or rubber.
For example, an underlay with a Damp Proof Membrane is important if you are installing a floor over a concrete subfloor, in order to avoid moisture damage.
In bedrooms, choosing an underlay with sound reduction qualities could also be advisable to ensure that unwanted noise does not travel to the rooms below, while material created to provide additional thermal insulation is also worth considering if you want to stay warm even when the radiators are not on full.
Choosing the right underlay for underfloor heating is also vital as failure to do this could see the whole system overheating.
Finally, if you have a problem with an uneven subfloor then an underlay that has been designed to eliminate this could solve the problem for you.
So, whatever your flooring plans, you will find an underlay to complete them.
