Do I need carpet underlay?

Whether you need underlay depends on the type of carpet, but even with carpets where underlay is not a necessity, there are reasons why underlay is a good idea.

Carpet finish

If the carpet has a textile or latex backing, it does need underlay. Carpets with felt or foam backing do not require an underlay, but there are benefits from having one.

Underfloor heating

If you have underfloor heating, standard underlay can prevent warmth from reaching the room. Use specialist underlay that conducts heat.

Energy saving

Underlay has an insulating effect that prevents heat loss through the floor. This can save energy and fuel bills. Wrexham, Chester and North Wales are no stranger to cold days, so anything that can help keep rooms warm is recommended. There are specialist high-thermal varieties of underlay worth considering if your home gets cold in winter.

Acoustics

A carpet underlay reduces the noise in the room. Noise bounces off hard floor surfaces but is absorbed by carpets with underlay. Underlay that reduces noise is important for commercial rooms where employees need to concentrate on their work without noise disturbance.

It is a good idea to install acoustic underlay in carpeted bedrooms so that sound is dampened for the people in the rooms below.

Looks and wear

Quality underlay prevents the carpet pile from flattening, making the carpet look newer for longer. The underlay absorbs shocks and pressure and this can reduce wear so that the carpet lasts longer.

The carpet pile is protected by underlay and will also be easier to clean, with dust removed more easily.

Feel

Walking on a carpet with a thick underlay feels softer and more relaxing.

Types of underlay

Foam underlay made from PU foam is a popular underlay that makes the carpet feel softer. It is generally made from recycled furniture foam making it friendly to the environment. After use, it can be further recycled.

PU foam underlay is available in various thicknesses. Thicker is better, but more expensive.

If soundproofing is your main concern, go for rubber underlay. Sponge rubber comes in a waffle shape or flat. Waffle underlay can flatten over time, but both types provide excellent noise reduction.

Crumb rubber contains recycled car tyres, making it environmentally friendly. It has good soundproofing qualities, but compared to sponge rubber, it is harder.

The traditional choice of underlay is felt made from a high proportion of wool. It has excellent thermal properties to save energy.

You can get specialist underlay for underfloor heating and high thermal types for energy conservation.

Carpet underlay is not a luxury, it has many practical benefits and can extend the life of a carpet.

If you are not sure about what type of carpet underlay to use, or whether you need an underlay at all, carpet retailers and installers provide advice to help you choose. They will discuss your priories concerning comfort, acoustics, heat conservation and budget to suggest the best type of underlay for your home or business.

How to lay solid wood flooring on concrete

Many people in Chester, Wrexham and North Wales install solid wood flooring because it looks beautiful and will last for a long time. However, it is important that wood flooring is laid correctly on concrete.

Preparation

The concrete subfloor needs to be prepared well. It must be clean, free of all debris and be completely flat. If you are in Chester, Wrexham or North Wales, there will be many days when there is high moisture content in the atmosphere. Wood can become warped if too damp. Moisture rises from a concrete subfloor, so to protect the wood, a damp proof membrane should be installed.

If the floor is uneven, a self-levelling compound must be used. Any paint or old adhesive should be removed either mechanically or using chemicals.

There are three ways to lay a solid wood floor – glueing, floating or nailing. Whichever method is used, a damp proof membrane should be first laid on the concrete to protect the wood.

Glueing

In the glueing process, an adhesive is applied to the subfloor and the planks laid on top of it.

The recommended way to lay wood flooring is to start with the longest wall, pressing the wood down on the adhesive. A 10mm expansion gap is laid around the room perimeter using spacers.

Parquet flooring uses a different method. First measure the centre of the room then lay out the tiles without adhesive to make sure they are in the correct position before glueing.

An alternative to glueing directly on the concrete is to use an adhesive backed underlay over a waterproof membrane. The wood planks are pressed onto the adhesive layer.

Nailing

Nailing involves attaching the wood planks onto wooden batons laid out at intervals of around 450mm. Wood batons should have a minimum depth of 40mm. The easiest way to fix the wood planks is by using a nail gun.

Floating

Floating means that the wood planks are not glued or nailed to the subfloor, though glue can be used in the tongue and grooves to keep the planks together. A floating wood floor should be installed over a padded underlay.

Use a quality North Wales, Chester or Wrexham installer

Unless you are skilled in installing wood floors, it is not recommended that you install wood floors yourself. A professional flooring installer makes sure that the concrete is prepared correctly and that the wood floor is laid well.

Laying solid wood floors over concrete is a skilled job. Done incorrectly, it may reduce the life of the floor. A wood floor is a considerable investment but is cost effective because the floor lasts a long time. If it becomes worn, it can be resanded to make it look like new again. Don’t try to save money by using a cheap inexperienced installer or doing it yourself without expert knowledge, as in the long term it could cost you more.

Properly installed, sold wood floors laid over concrete are beautiful options for homes and businesses in the North Wales, Chester and Wrexham region.

Is underlay required for hardwood flooring?

Strictly speaking, you don’t have to have underlay for hardwood flooring, but there are a number of reasons why underlay is recommended. Whether you are using solid wood or engineered wood flooring, underlay performs a number of functions.

Long-lasting

Hardwood flooring is expensive compared to other floor coverings, but it is designed to last a long time. Underlay can help protect the wood floor and increase its lifespan. For a little extra cost, it’s a good investment.

Many floor companies will not provide a guarantee for the life of the hardwood floor without underlay.

A hardwood floor needs regular cleaning to preserve the floor in a good condition whether it has an underlay or not.

Subfloor imperfections

The subfloor on which the wood is laid needs to be even. Major dips and flaws in the subfloor have to be filed in. However, if the subfloor has only minor imperfections, a good quality underlay will provide the stability the wood floor needs, and this will also extend the life of the floor.

Noise reduction

Wood does not absorb sound. People walking on wood floors create noise that can disturb people in adjacent rooms or areas underneath wood floors. An underlay with acoustic properties will significantly reduce this noise, creating quieter spaces.

Warmth

A good quality underlay keeps damp and cold away from the wood floors. This makes the floor feel warmer so that people can choose not to wear footwear when walking on the floor.

Underlay reduces the amount of heat escaping through the floor and this can save on energy bills, as well as keeping your feet warm.

If there is an underfloor heating system, it is essential to have underlay under a hardwood floor.

Moisture resistance in Wrexham, Chester and North Wales

An underlay with a vapour barrier keeps moisture rising from the subfloor affecting the wood. Under prolonged damp conditions, wood can warp. This is particularly important if the subfloor is concrete which is subject to damp.

The Wrexham, Chester and North Wales region has a high annual rainfall. People coming from outside with muddy shoes and wet clothes will make a wood floor damp. This is not a problem as long as any moisture is wiped up promptly.

Cushioning

Underlay can provide a cushioning effect that makes the wood floor feel more comfortable when walking on it. Cushioning means that when you walk on the floor, there is less impact on the subfloor. This protects the wood floor to make it last longer.

Getting the right underlay

The are several types of underlay available. A hardwood flooring supplier and the installer will recommend the best one suitable for the type of subfloor. Concrete floors will need an underlay with a moisture barrier, or a damp-proof membrane. Wood subfloors will require underlay suitable for the type of wood, or engineered wood planks being used.

These are some of the reasons why it makes sense to spend extra for underlay when installing hardwood flooring in Chester, Wrexham and North Wales rooms.

Carpets made from old fishing nets save marine life

Carpet maker Sedna has developed a new range of carpets that use recycled fishing nets, claiming that they are as kind on the environment as they are effective on a floor.

Thanks largely to media attention on the problems of plastics that pollute the oceans, changes have been prompted such as the charge for carrier bags, and some catering chains have stopped issuing plastic straws. However, up to half of all marine plastic pollution is discarded fishing nets.

Sedna is dedicated to doing something about the problem of plastic fishing nets dumped into the sea. It carpets use yarn made from old carpets and abandoned fishing nets. Sedna says:

“Sedna® carpet is soft, luxurious and durable. It is made with ECONYL® regenerated nylon, a yarn made from recycled waste material such as old carpets and abandoned fishing nets collected from the bottom of the sea. Sedna® thus helps to save thousands of beautiful sea creatures like sea turtles, dolphins and seals will no longer get stuck in this life-threatening waste. “

Their carpet backing also contains marine waste in the form of abandoned PET plastic bottles.

For people concerned about the environment, there are several environmentally friendly floor coverings available from flooring services in Chester. Cork is harvested from trees that are not cut down, while wool carpets are made from natural materials and do not contain harmful chemicals. Solid wood flooring can be made from reclaimed wood, and LVT floors can be recycled at the end of their life.

Do I need to use underlay for laminate flooring?

Laminate flooring is a cost effective and strong floor covering that will last for many years. Though, for some subfloors, underlay is not strictly necessary, it is recommended. Underlay helps laminate planks to be evenly distributed across the subfloor, and supports the locking system between planks to make sure that the floor is sturdy.

Laminate flooring with pre-attached underlay

Some laminate planks come with underlay attached to them, so don’t need extra underlay. If you are installing these planks on a cement concrete or wood surface, a vapour barrier is necessary to prevent moisture reaching the surface.

Laminated flooring without underlay attached

If your planks come without underlay attached, then it is recommended that underlay is used. You can get away without using it, but the floor will not last as long.

Choosing underlay based on subfloor type

Wood subfloors

For wood subfloors, you can use a standard underlay, but should consider ones that reduce noise or add extra cushioning. A vapour layer under the underlay will prevent moisture damage.

Cement or concrete

Laminate laid on concrete floors should have a vapour layer beneath the underlay. In the Chester, Wrexham and North Wales regions, there is a lot of annual rainfall and the possibility of flooding. Laminate flooring withstands moisture and minor flood damage, as long as a vapour layer is installed under the underlay.

Floor covered in vinyl

If the floor has vinyl on it, you can lay laminate flooring without the need for an underlay, but underlay can add extra cushioning.

Can you lay laminate flooring on an uneven subfloor?

The subfloor on which the laminate is laid needs to be even. If it isn’t, a thick underlay should cover the flaws and create an even surface. If underlay is not used, there is the danger of the laminate being damaged when many people walk on it. You should also consider a vapour layer under the underlay if the floor is in a high-moisture room.

Can underlay help reduce noise?

If laminates are installed in bedrooms, people in the room below are likely to hear noises from the bedroom. A noise-resistant acoustic underlay will stop the sound waves travelling to other rooms. This is useful for children’s bedrooms where noisy kids live. Don’t be tempted to add two layers of ordinary underlay as this could actually weaken the floor.

Is underlay for laminate flooring expensive?

Using underlay does add extra costs to installing laminate flooring, but in the long term, underlay adds extra life to laminate flooring, not to mention its performance, so is cost effective.

Make sure that you buy enough underlay to cover the room. Some people believe that, if they have not bought enough, it’s not a major problem if the underlay leaves gaps along the edges of the room, but this can decrease the life of the flooring.

Laminate flooring is a good choice for homes and commercial buildings in Chester, North Wales and Wrexham. You can cut your initial expense by not having underlay, but the benefits of using underlay justify the cost of using it. This is especially important for businesses with high everyday footfall.