Underlay

Carpet underlay is a cushioning layer installed between the subfloor and the carpet. It improves comfort underfoot, adds thermal insulation, reduces noise transfer between floors, protects the carpet backing from abrasion, and extends the carpet’s working life significantly. A good underlay makes even a mid-range carpet feel premium. The difference between walking on carpet with good underlay and the same carpet with poor underlay is immediately apparent, which is why your Floorworld team considers underlay selection as important as the carpet itself.

Many hybrid flooring products come with an integrated underlay pre-bonded to the back of each board. If your product includes this, a separate underlay is generally not needed, though a vapour barrier over concrete may still be required. If your hybrid or laminate product does not include integrated underlay, adding an appropriate hard-flooring underlay improves acoustic performance and helps compensate for minor subfloor irregularities. Your Floorworld team can confirm exactly what is needed for the specific product you choose.

For apartments and upper-floor rooms, acoustic performance is the most critical underlay specification. The goal is to reduce impact sound travelling through the floor to the room below. Dunlop ComfortCare has a 26dB acoustic reduction rating and is a well-regarded choice for apartment and multi-storey installations. Many Australian strata buildings have specific acoustic requirements under NCC guidelines. An appropriate acoustic underlay can help bring an installation into compliance. Check your building’s by-laws with the strata manager before choosing your floor and underlay combination.