How to lay artificial grass
Want to spruce up your garden with some fake turf? There’s no need for it to be a massive project or to pay over the odds for a professional installation. It’s actually pretty easy to lay artificial grass by yourself. So, our advice? Don’t let the grass grow under your feet! Set aside a few hours this weekend, purchase both your artificial grass and (crucially) artificial grass underlay and follow our step-by-step guide. We promise – the job will be done and dusted in time for your first fami...
Is memory foam better than standard foam underlay?
Think memory foam is only found in your mattress? Wrong – it’s actually used to make carpet underlay too. For a long time, PU foam underlay has been the norm – favoured by most manufacturers for its softness, comfort and all-round performance. However, the last few years have seen a huge growth in technology, which has led to the development and introduction of memory foam underlays. In fact, memory foam is used to create Plushwalk 12mm – which is currently the industry’s ‘gold standard’ and ...
How to lay vinyl flooring
Vinyl flooring. It certainly has a lot of perks. It’s durable and long-lasting. It’s water-resistant. It’s soft and comfortable underfoot. It’s easy to keep clean. It looks great and comes in a range of colours and patterns. It’s affordable. And the best bit? It’s actually super easy to install. If you can’t already tell, we’re a big fan. That’s why we have a wide range of vinyl roll flooring for you to choose from. If you’d like to give your kitchen or bathroom a quick and cost-effective ref...
A guide to laminate flooring repair
Give your planks a little TLC Laminate looking a little worse for wear? It may be tough and require very little in the way of maintenance – but it isn’t indestructible. Whether it’s been there for many years, or you just have a busy household of children and pets, accidents happen. And laminate flooring is susceptible to damage such as scratches, chips, cracks, peeling and more. All of which can have a huge impact on its appearance. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean it needs replacing. U...
Underlay – the best way to avoid carpet nightmares
Thanks to today’s technology, carpet is now a durable choice for flooring. But that doesn’t mean it’s perfect. Whether due to poor decisions during the installation process or improper cleaning and maintenance, issues can still rear their ugly head. And before you know it, that luxury loop pile that cost you a small fortune can become less swish show home, more house of horrors! Like with most things, knowledge is power. So to help prevent any nightmare scenarios, here we take a look at some ...
Flooring trends for 2024
Looking to update your flooring this new year? Perhaps a new plush carpet for the lounge? Or some stylish parquet for the kitchen-diner? Just like any aspect of interior design, flooring trends come and go. And experts are looking ahead and predicting which floor styles, types and colours are set to be big among homeowners over the next 12 months. So why not have a sneak peek? Start 2024 on the right foot and check out the flooring looks that will be everywhere soon. 5 trending flooring loo...
Hallway flooring ideas
Fed up with dirty, wet footprints in the hallway? It’s somewhat inevitable at this time of year. From soggy paws after morning walkies to muddy boots after your evening walk, it’s the first room you step into when you get home. Add in the unfavourable weather and a consistently high level of footfall, and your hallway flooring can quickly look a little worse for wear – particularly in the winter! That’s why damage limitation is essential. As inviting and stylish as a plush cream carpet may be...
Is underfloor heating worth it?
Energy bills have been a big concern for us all over the last couple of years. As tariffs have soared, finding ways to save money on gas and electricity has become a priority – which is why, more and more people have started to consider the possibility of underfloor heating. A high-spec feature that adds a true touch of luxury to the home. Underfloor heating (UFH) is a great way to take the cold chill off the bathroom floor or heat the lounge on a cold winter’s day. But the reality is, it can...
Low VOC underlays for a healthier home
Stand in your lounge and take a long, deep breath. Can you smell any fumes? Probably not – but that doesn’t mean they’re not there. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) first became a household concern back in 2014, when a specific type of laminate was linked to toxic levels of formaldehyde in the air. The incident made people aware that everyday items – particularly flooring – can emit toxic fumes, potentially having a negative impact on short- and long-term health. And as a result, the industr...
Plushwalk 12mm underlay – 2023 Flooring Innovation Winner
If you’re going spend money on carpet underlay, you may as well spend it on an award winner. Take to the podium, Plushwalk 12mm. 👏 Deemed as one of the best carpet underlays currently on the market, this premium product was recently named as a winner in the ‘Underlays and Accessories’ category of the 2023 National Flooring Innovation Awards. And it’s an accolade we believe is very well deserved. Since its launch in 2018, this prestigious award scheme has gained real respect in the flooring in...
Cheap underlay – going, going, gone
About to rip up the old carpet in your new home? The chances are, there won’t be anything too interesting underneath. Most people just find dusty floorboards, layers of old lino, perhaps some old newspaper cuttings. But when two builders started renovating a house in Penarth, they struck gold. Hidden below the musty old shagpile, they found a stash of cinema posters – dating from the 1930s and 40s – that had been used as a makeshift carpet underlay. The builders held onto the posters for almo...
How to stop laminate floor from creaking
It’s the third plank of laminate, about a metre from the right-hand wall. Exactly where your foot lands every time you walk through the room. Surprisingly loud, especially when you pop down for a glass of water in the middle of the night. And it’s starting to drive you a bit mad. We get it, creaky laminate flooring can be incredibly frustrating. You’ve spent a lot of time and effort (and money!) to ensure your new flooring looks and feels as good as possible. But – whilst creaking isn’t usual...
Buy British at Carpet Underlay Shop
Did you know, October 3rd is ‘Buy British Day’? The ‘Made in Britain’ badge has long been seen as a badge of quality overseas, regarded as a true mark of excellence. But in the UK? Sadly, not so much. That’s why, in 2014, this annual event was launched – to help change people’s attitudes and encourage consumers to support brands and businesses that design and manufacture in Britain. Here at Carpet Underlay Shop, we’re incredibly proud to be based in Blighty. At our warehouse in West Yorksh...
Does vinyl flooring need underlay?
Underlay is almost always necessary. We're often asked by our customers: Do you need underlay for carpet? Definitely, is our answer. Do you need underlay for laminate? 100%. Do you need underlay for hardwood flooring? Absolutely. In fact, as a leading online supplier, we live by the motto that underlay shouldn't ever be regarded as an ‘optional extra'. It's an essential purchase. Something that, nine times out of ten, you will need to buy when updating your flooring. However, ...
Which is the best flooring for a bathroom?
Shut your eyes and picture your bathroom with a plush, loop-pile carpet. Did the thought send a shudder down your spine? Yep, us too. Bathroom carpeting is a 70s trend that (mercifully) you don’t see a lot of these days. Underfoot sogginess. Mould. Visible stains. Invisible bacteria. There are plenty of reasons why it isn’t the best flooring for a bathroom and, as a result, is now usually avoided. Instead, you need something that can stand up to moisture. Whilst fully waterproof flooring is o...
Is laminate underlay worth the expense?
Laying laminate on a limited budget? It may be a cheaper alternative to engineered or solid hardwood – but when you factor in delivery, accessories such as new door bars, the installation etc., the cost can soon ramp up. Which is why, many people ask – is laminate underlay really necessary? Do you really need to spend your hard-earned cash on a layer that won’t even be seen? For anyone attempting to keep costs down, underlay is often viewed as an optional extra – something that can be omitted...