Why underlay matters

So, you’ve found your perfect floor covering, but there are a few decisions remaining – chief among them being, do you need underlay?

It’s perfectly acceptable to stick some carpets directly to your floor. However, we’d always recommend the use of an underlay – especially for areas of heavy foot traffic – if you want your carpet to look (and feel) its best for as long as possible. That’s because underlay provides several important benefits:

Protection against wear and tear so lasts longer

Extra comfort underfoot

Additional warmth: 10 to 15 per cent of heat in our homes is lost through the floor, which means a good underlay can help to reduce energy costs

Noise insulation

For optimum results the underlay should be firm and durable, and have just the right amount of “give”. If the underlay is too spongy or soft, the carpet backing will flex and sink as you continually walk on it, and eventually this can lead to the carpet losing its taut, smooth appearance.

At Sisal & Seagrass we recommend using a rubber-based underlay with any natural floor coverings and the best of those come in the form of our RC ECO underlay; manufactured in the UK partly from recycled vehicle tyres, it has a very low carbon footprint and offers excellent support and resilience.

Alternatively, if you chose a range like our planet saving Ocean Clear Carpets – or any standard carpet – we offer AirFlow, a completely new type of underlay that is better for your health and the planet too. Made from natural wood fibres, it has the incredible ability to improve the air quality in your home by filtering over 95% of dust from the air that flows through it. This underlay also works with our Biodegradable range and is recommended to use with all carpets in our no glue carpet range.

Whatever underlay – or carpet – you choose, you’ll get the best results if it’s fitted by a competent specialist who has experience of natural floor coverings. Take a look at our Installation page for more guidance, or get in touch by phone or email – we’re always happy to help and advise. Alternatively see Our Comprehensive Guide On How To Measure For Installation.

For more information on our products why not read our blog Sisal Carpet: Addressing Your Common Questions. Or you could read all about the difference between sisal and jute. And if you decided you would rather avoid the task of getting a natural carpet fitted, why not think about a natural rug instead? Read our blog on Our 5 Favourite Natural Rug Combinations.