FOCUS ON CARPETS, RUGS & ACCESSORIES What Lies Beneath As one of Europe’s largest flooring and accessories manufacturers, Interfloor is


well-known in the underlay market. Here, Interfloor Sales Director Gary Cowley offers advice on selecting the best underlay for different environments.


New carpet, as well as wood and laminate flooring, needs the right type of underlay to make sure it looks great, performs well and lasts longer.


The Carpet Foundation and its Consumer Code of Practice, approved by the Trading Standards Institute (TSI), recommends that new underlay is bought with every new carpet to help it sit properly and wear evenly. Just as carpet may wear more in certain areas, so does the underlay, which is why it’s always better to buy new underlay for a new carpet.


Similarly, hard floorcoverings, such as wooden and laminate flooring as well as luxury vinyl tiles (LVT), need the right underlay in order to perform well in terms of noise reduction and heat insulation.


Choosing the right underlay for your home Lounge


Consider a luxurious thick rubber sponge or a high density PU underlay to counter wear but still provide comfort.


Kitchen A durable sponge rubber underlay designed for wood and laminate flooring will help reduce in-room noise.


Staircase


& Landing A durable dense crumb rubber underlay is recommended for areas of high foot traffic.


Dining Room A solid crumb rubber underlay will help to prevent furniture indentations.


Master Bedroom A thick medium density PU or thick rubber sponge underlay will give superb underfoot comfort.


Other Bedroom A medium density PU or rubber sponge underlay will give comfort and value in low foot traffic areas.


The main reason people buy underlay is for underfoot comfort. They also want it to make their carpet last longer, look better and, particularly for hard floorings, to reduce noise and add warmth.


The cushioning of underlay is vital in ensuring carpet feels comfortable and luxurious underfoot. It also helps the carpet to last longer by protecting it and preventing the pile from flattening. Another benefit is its heat insulation qualities, which in turn helps to reduce energy costs. It can also reduce noise in a room as it acts as a barrier to sound.


There are two main types of underlay: rubber and PU foam.


Sponge rubber underlay is available in flat or waffle patterns in a range of weights for different areas. At the quality end of the market, sponge rubber underlays offer luxury and high levels of underfoot comfort whilst at the same time delivering performance and durability for the lifetime of the floorcovering.


Flat and dense, crumb rubber is made from recycled car tyres and is good for busier areas where there is heavy footfall. For example, on stairs, in areas such as dining rooms where there is heavy furniture, or to support people with mobility challenges who use walking aids.


14 | Tomorrow’s Retail Floors


Polyurethane (PU) foam is made from recycled foam material and provides excellent comfort and performance levels with lots of thickness options and densities. Some PU underlays are constructed for low-traffic use, such as bedrooms, with more dense products available for higher traffic areas such as hallways, lounges and dining areas.


Within these main categories, there are specialist underlays for different applications, for example under wooden or laminate flooring, under LVT, or for use with underfloor heating. Acoustics can worsen if inferior or lightweight underlays are used with hard flooring, so it’s essential to choose one that’s the right weight and density to ensure in- room noise is kept to a minimum.


It’s important to recommend the most suitable underlay for your customer to ensure they get the best flooring performance for their space. Keeping noise to a minimum might be important for people living in flats, or for those with young children, while people with underfloor heating will want an underlay with a very low tog rating. Areas such as stairs, halls and landings which see a lot of traffic will perform better with a more durable underlay, while a more economical underlay providing everyday comfort is perfect for a spare bedroom.


www.interfloor.com www.tomorrowsretailfloors.com


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