Expert Flooring & Underlay Guides

To make shopping for underlay even easier, our expert team has pulled together some guides that will take you from measuring up your room and stairs, to picking the right type of underlay for your project, to fitting your underlay correctly.

If you still need help, please don’t hesitate to contact our Customer Service team on contact@simplyunderlay.co.uk.

Measuring & Fitting

Man using a tape measure to measure a room for new flooring or underlay

How to measure a room

Getting your measurements wrong can mean over- or under-ordering materials for your project. Our guide shows you how to measure a room in m² correctly.

Man measuring stairs riser with a tape measure

How to measure stairs

Measuring stairs is easy if you follow these simple steps. Whether you have half landings, winders or bullnose steps here's how to get the m² right.

How to remove old carpet

How to remove old carpet

Thinking about having your carpet fitter uplift and remove your old carpet? That will cost you. Here's how to do it yourself and save money.

How to fit carpet gripper

How to fit carpet gripper

Our easy, step-by-step will show you how to install carpet gripper in rooms and on stairs, saving you money and time when it comes to fitting.

Man installing foam carpet underlay

How to lay carpet underlay

From prepping the subfloor to installing carpet grippers to laying the underlay, our step-by-step guide will teach you how to fit carpet underlay.

How to lay underlay on stairs for carpet and runners

How to fit underlay on stairs

We’ll show you step-by-step how to fit your staircase with underlay – whether you’re laying a full-width carpet or a runner.

Man fitting a carpet using a knee kicker

How to fit a carpet like a professional

Fitting a carpet yourself might feel like a daunting task, but with the right guidance and tools, a competent DIY'er could do it.

How to fit stairs carpet like a professional

How to fit a full stairs carpet

Whether you’ve got a standard or complex staircase, we’ll guide you through the entire fitting process.

UK carpet fitter installing a stair carpet

How much does it cost to lay a carpet?

Based on the latest UK average costs, this guide will give you a better idea of what you should be paying for carpet fitting – before you get any quotes.

How much does it cost to install laminate flooring

How much does it cost to lay laminate?

Based on the latest UK average costs, this guide will give you a better idea of what you should be paying for laminate fitting – before you get any quotes.

How to remove old laminate flooring

How to remove old laminate flooring

A step-by-step guide to removing your old laminate flooring without damaging the boards, allowing you to reinstall it elsewhere.

How to lay laminate underlay

How to lay laminate underlay

Save money on fitting by installing your laminate underlay yourself. Here's how to prepare the subfloor and lay the underlay correctly.

How to install laminate flooring like a pro

How to lay laminate flooring

Our easy to follow guide will show you how to lay laminate flooring and achieve a professional finish. Any competent DIY'er can do this to save money.

Man laying Tredaire underlay with the branding facing up

Which way up does underlay go?

Our in-house expert details which way up your underlay should be fitted, whether it's carpet or laminate, foam, rubber or foil backed.

How to level a wooden subfloor using hardwood boards

How to level a wooden floor for carpet or laminate

It's imperative your subfloor is smooth and level before laying new flooring. Here's how to level an uneven wood floor in 5 easy steps.

Three single edge door bars by Gripperrods Premier

An expert guide to door threshold strips

Everything you need to know about door bars, including the different types available and the right one for your flooring.

Door bars are an accessory you need with a new carpet

The accessories you need with a new carpet

These all-important accessories are designed to help your flooring look great and last longer.

Carpet Underlay Guides

The best carpet underlays you can buy

The best carpet underlays for 2024

Learn how to choose the ideal carpet underlay with our comprehensive guide, featuring expert tips and top picks for every home.

Dog sitting on top of carpeted stairs with underlay underneath

The best carpet underlays for stairs

When carpeting stairs, selecting the right underlay can make a significant difference in terms of comfort, durability and noise reduction.

Cheap carpet underlays that are good value for money

Budget carpet underlays that are great value for money

These carpet underlays are all priced under £4m² but still deliver comfort, insulation, noise reduction and durability. Genuine bargains.

The best underlays for concrete floors

The best underlays for concrete floors

These underlays are ideal for installing over concrete subfloors, helping negate their cold hard feeling while preventing moisture ingression.

The best acoustic underlays for reducing impact noise

The best acoustic underlays for sound reduction

If it feels like you’re living with a herd of elephants, these acoustic underlays will help create a quieter, more peaceful home.

The best underlays for bedroom carpet

The best underlays for bedroom carpets

These carpet underlays combine high TOG values and excellent sound reduction to help turn your bedroom into a cosy and peaceful sanctuary.

Dog on a warm laminate floor with underfloor heating

The best underfloor heating underlays

Our expert guide breaks down the importance of TOG rating and showcases the best underfloor heating underlays on the market for all flooring types.

The best carpet underlays for living rooms and lounges

The best underlays for living room carpets

Your living room should be a warm, comfortable and inviting space to relax. Each of these carpet underlays will ensure your lounge is just that.

The best carpet underlay brands logos

The carpet underlay brands you can trust

These carpet underlay brands are the best on the market - recommended by fitters, customers and retailers alike. Don't buy anything else.

How to choose the right carpet underlay for your space and home

How to choose the right carpet underlay

It might not be the most exciting purchase you'll make when renovating, but it's one of the most important. So it pays to get it right.

There are many benefits of carpet underlay

The benefits of carpet underlay

Carpet underlay offers multiple important benefits, from making your carpet last longer to reducing heat loss and noise.

Key types of carpet underlay

Types of carpet underlay

Our experts break down the key types of carpet underlay and detail their unique benefits to help you pick the right one for your home.

Close up of thick carpet underlay

A guide to carpet underlay thickness

Thicker isn't always better. Here's how do determine just how thick your carpet underlay should be.

A complete guide to thermal and insulating carpet underlay to keep your rooms warmer

The complete guide to thermal/insulating underlay

Do you suffer from cold floors and rooms that never stay warm? Thermal underlay could be the solution.

The best foam carpet underlays

The complete guide to PU foam underlay

Our expert guide covers the benefits of PU underlay, selection tips and the best products on the market for all budgets.

Laminate Underlay Guides

Duralay Timbermate Excel is one of the best laminate underlays you can buy

The best laminate underlays for 2024

Learn how to choose the ideal laminate underlay with our comprehensive guide, featuring expert tips and top picks for every home.​

How to pick the right laminate flooring underlay

How to choose the right underlay for your laminate flooring

Our experts help you choose the perfect underlay for your laminate flooring. Includes the key types of underlay available, and the best products on the market.

Man installing laminate flooring over the top of green fibreboardunderlay

Types of laminate flooring underlay

Our experts break down the key types of laminate flooring underlay and detail their unique benefits to help you pick the right one for your home.

The benefits of laminate underlay

The benefits of laminate underlay

It's able to reduce noise, increase comfort and extend the lifespan of your flooring. Here's why you should never go without laminate underlay.

How thick is laminate flooring underlay

A guide to laminate underlay thickness

The pros and cons of various laminate underlay thickness to help you make the right choice for your home.

Rolls of white foam laminate underlay stored in warehouse

Laminate flooring: pre-attached vs separate underlay

Installing underlay is crucial to achieve the best laminate flooring finish. But should you opt for pre-attached or separate underlay? Here's our expert verdict.

Care & Maintenance

How to soundproof a floor

How to soundproof a floor

Here are 6 proven ways to soundproof your floors to help reduce impact and airborne noise.

Floor insulation below a suspended timber floor

How to insulate a floor

We detail the right way to insulate your floors, whether they are suspended timber or concrete. Reduce heat loss by up to 20% and save £145 a year!

Ways to make your carpet last longer

How to make your carpet last longer

Tips and tricks we've learned from professional fitters and carpet cleaners to help your carpet look its best for years to come.

Common Questions

Cross section of plywood subfloor, carpet underlay and carpet layers.

How thick is carpet and underlay combined?

Picking underlay and carpet that's too thick can create issues when it comes to finished floor height. So it pays to know average thicknesses before you buy.

The best carpet underlay thickness for stairs

What underlay thickness is best for stairs?

Go too thin and you sacrifice comfort and noise reduction. Go too thick and you you sacrifice longevity while creating a safety hazard. Here's the sweet spot.

How thick is laminate flooring and underlay combined

How thick is laminate flooring and underlay combined?

Here's exactly how thick laminate flooring and underlay is combined, so you can avoid any issues with finished floor height.

A woman shopping online for carpet underlay

How much is carpet underlay?

The key factors affecting the price of carpet underlay, how much you should spend and hidden costs you may not have considered.

Carpet and underlay thrown away as they have come to the end of their lifespan

How long does carpet underlay last?

Carpet underlay can last 20 years or more, but multiple factors influence this.

Old carpet roll thrown out on street

How long does carpet last?

What affects a carpet’s longevity, signs that you need a new one, and how to make your next one last longer.

Do you need carpet underlay

Do you need underlay for carpet?

We provide the definitive answer to this common query, including scenarios when underlay is not strictly required.

Man installing laminate underlay over white pu foam underlay

Do you need underlay for laminate flooring?

Do you really need underlay for laminate, or can you go without to save some cash? Our expert article provides a truthful answer.

Modern vinyl/lino sheet flooring roll. Do you need underlay for it?

Do you need underlay for vinyl/lino flooring?

If you're installing vinyl/lino sheet flooring you may be surprised as to whether you need to install an underlay beneath it. Here's our honest answer.

Can You Use Carpet Underlay For Laminate Flooring?

Can you use carpet underlay for laminate flooring?

The definitive answer as to whether you can use carpet underlay under laminate flooring, and the benefits of a specialist laminate underlay.