Whether you are remodeling a Bay Area living room, gutting and rebuilding a San Francisco apartment complex, or replacing an old hardwood floor with hypoallergenic carpeting, you want to understand the basics of carpet underlay. So here we go…

Functions of Carpet Underlay

1. Helps the carpet cohere and maintain integrity in the face of pressures like people walking on the carpet, animals digging into it, etc.

2. Provides some insulation. This can be an important factor if your house is drafty, or if you are really trying to minimize heating and cooling costs.

3. Provides a degree of protection against dirt and debris. Carpet underlay can prevent grime, spills and stains from soaking into the deepest layers of the fiber. But this feature is something of a double-edge sword. If the underlay itself gets dirty and grimy, it can be difficult to clean. Moreover, a carpet can look clean on the surface, but if the underlay is dirty, you may have a hidden hygiene problem!

Categories of Underlay

Felt

Felt is good for traditional carpets that get a lot of “working out.” It makes the carpet strong. It’s good for areas like your lobby or your playroom – places where the carpet is gets serious abuse.

Foam

image: asia.ru

Bonded chips and polyurethane foam underlay can also be good choices. There are subtleties and nuances of performance here – variations in insulation, ease of cleaning, etc. – that your carpet care professional can help you understand and apply.

Rubber

Rubber provides a special kind of sponginess and helps the carpet avoid getting deformed due to pressure (e.g. a table leg standing on it for months, etc). It also provides excellent insulation. On the other hand, rubber is generally more expensive than both foam and felt.

Elegant Carpet Care

For help understanding the best choices for your San Francisco / Bay Area carpet renovation or restoration project, connect with the team here at Elegant Carpet Care. Call us now at 650-961-1339 for an estimate, or visit us online at www.elegant-carpetcare.com for more free resources.

featured image source: georgiacarpet.com