How thick is carpet underlay. Carpet underlays between 6-8mm are typically cost effective options that offer the basic support your carpet needs to look its best, along with a comfortable sensation underfoot.
If you've opted for a thinner carpet, you may want to choose a slightly thicker underlay. Popular manufacturers make underlay of around 11mm-12mm and this is ideal. Although for more difficult areas like stairs, a 9mm underlay would be far easier to fit, rather than something as much as 12mm.
Short answer - Yes. Underlay definitely does prolong the life of your carpet as well as making it feel better. If you are having an expensive carpet, then go for the best quality underlay you can afford. The difference really is noticeable.
Density plays a role in both comfort and durability. Higher-density underlay tends to be more resilient and durable, as it can better withstand the pressure and weight placed on the flooring surface. It offers improved support and helps prevent premature wear and tear of the floor covering.
8lb, 7/16” Rebond Padding
The lighter density pad, 4 or 6lb will be cushy but not withstand traffic for years to come. And on the opposite spectrum, a 10lb will be durable but is very firm underfoot. The 8lb, 7/16” rebond pad is our most popular pad. It is a fantastic value, performs well and is very comfortable!
How thick is carpet underlay. Carpet underlays between 6-8mm are typically cost effective options that offer the basic support your carpet needs to look its best, along with a comfortable sensation underfoot.
Most carpets call for 7/16-inch padding. Choose stiff, stable padding with a thickness of 3/8-inch or less for a low-pile carpet. This includes Berbers, loop pattern carpets and commercial options. Tip: Carpet padding should be replaced when new carpet is installed.
With that being said, most underlayments are 2-3mm thick, but are sometimes thicker for carpet or to smooth out an uneven subfloor. It's often advertised that 6mm underlayment offers double the sound absorption as 3mm underlayment.
Bedrooms & Low-traffic areas: Consider a density rating around 3000-4000 for a balance of durability and cost-effectiveness. Living Rooms & Hallways: Aim for 4000-5000 density or higher for maximum resilience in high-traffic zones.
Ball & Young supply underlay from 3mm all the way through to 11mm; the thicker the product, the more travel of compression there is, which makes the product feel more comfortable and gives better heat insulation.
The price of carpet underlay is calculated per m2 and – dependent on the supplier and the quality of the product – you can expect to pay anywhere between £2-£8. The more luxurious the underlay, and the better its overall performance, the more it will cost.
How often should you replace carpet underlay. Although a typical carpet underlay will last somewhere between 10 and 25 years, we would always recommend installing new underlay every time you replace your carpets.
And the answer is very simple. Yes, absolutely! Not only is it possible to lay your own underlay, for most projects we actually recommend it. Even if you're a bit of a DIY amateur – and have no previous experience in this area – most underlays are now designed with easy installation in mind.
A 7mm standard quality foam underlay would be considered a budget price option, whereas a high density 8mm to 12mm would be regarded as a good option to give great support to your new carpet.
This 9mm carpet underlay is excellent at resisting furniture indentations marks and compression as well as dramatically improving impact sound with 39dB reduction levels and amazing heat insulation properties at 2.37 Tog. The result is your walking on air with the added benefit of heat and sound insulation!
Carpet Underlay 10mm is versatile and can be used with a variety of flooring types, making it a great option for both residential and commercial properties. Whether you're installing carpet, laminate flooring, or vinyl flooring, this underlay provides the support and durability needed to ensure your floor stays intact.
Synthetic Chemicals
Most carpet is made from synthetic fibers, usually nylon and polypropylene. Both materials are made from non-renewable petroleum and emit harmful VOCs into the air.
Commercial grade carpet usually has a thickness that ranges between 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch. This thickness is carefully chosen to balance between comfort and durability. A thinner carpet typically tends to be more durable, which is a crucial factor in high-traffic areas like offices or retail spaces.
A good face weight for a carpet ranges from 40 ounces to 60 ounces per square yard for high-traffic areas like living rooms, dining rooms, entryways, and hallways. A good face weight for low-traffic areas, such as a bedroom, home office, or den, ranges from 30 ounces to 50 ounces per square yard.
So generally speaking 7mm is about as thin as you want to go unless you have a specialist need for something thinner, but 8-12mm is the band most manufacturers produce carpet underlay with and its perfect for any room and any carpet. So go thicker if you can afford it!
The reason they probably want you to use their 1.5mm thick underlay, is because their planks may only be stable on something 1.5mm thick or under. You have potential of voiding your warranty by using anything else. The 3mm pad may be too much give for the floor and cause failures.
For new flooring in a lounge, living space or bedroom, we typically recommend a carpet underlay at the top end of the thickness scale – around the 12mm mark. Such 'thick' underlays are regarded as the gold standard for domestic projects.
Bonded Urethane: This carpet cushion is also called rebond and is the most popular type of carpet padding sold today.
Medium pile – 7mm to 13mm
Medium pile carpets are the Goldilocks of the carpet world. Being able to be soft and hardwearing.
Residential carpet padding generally calls for something more comfortable underfoot. We recommend 6.5 to 8 lb., 7/16” bonded padding or 10 to 12 lb., ½” frothed foam. However, when installing looped (Berber) carpets, you need a denser, thinner pad such as a flat sponge rubber or 6.5 lb. ¼” to 3/10” synthetic fiber.