"Eco" carpet underlay - wool felt vs wood vs ??

[WoolyMammoth55]

Me again with the scintillating posts, sorry!

So we're at the 'ordering carpet' stage of the refurb (a.k.a complete emotional, mental and financial meltdown).

Found some decent cheap and pleasant carpet from CarpetRight but their fitting and underlay costs seem inflated, so we're hoping to find an independent fitter and looking elsewhere for underlay.

I haven't done carpets before but this is for stairs, landing and bedrooms. I have heard (a) that underlay is important, and (b) that it is notorious for "off-gassing" VOCs. I'll be 6 months pregnant when we get back in so attempting to limit that by looking at eco options.

So far I've found these which tick my eco & low-cost boxes:
Breathe Natural made from wood fibres, 8mm thick
www.carpet-underlay-shop.co.uk/products/qa-breathe-carpet-underlay-from-2-06-per-m2

Luxury Wool, no chemicals, 15mm thick
www.carpet-underlay-shop.co.uk/collections/carpet-underlay/products/56oz-heat-insulation-wool-carpet-underlay

Does anyone know about underlays and can offer advice? In London our wool carpets were eaten alive by moths so that makes me a bit wary of wool, but I think thick sounds good...

Should underlay be thick in the bedrooms and thinner on the stairs?

Is there another low-VOC solution I should be looking at?

Basically any advice or thoughts would be much appreciated!

[pumpkinpie01]

I'm no expert at all but I thought a decent thick underlay helped the carpets fit better and made them warmer .

[WoolyMammoth55]

Hi @pumpkinpie01 - thanks, yes I've heard that too.

I'm leaning towards the wool felt because thicker... Hmmm I do slightly wonder if I'm just buying the moths their lunch though! :)

[PragmaticWench]

I'm intrigued by the options, just looking at carpet/underlay for our extension (so I get the stage of 'there's NO money left and I can't make any more decisions' you are at!!).

You don't mind doing the research and making a decision for me, do you?

[isseywith4vampirecats]

when we did out bedroom carpet the local independant supplier put us onto canvas backed thick carpet so as its not a high useage area we didnt need to put underlay in and one year later the carpet still looks as good as new obviously on stairs and halls/landings underlay makes the carpet last longer so we went for underlay there

[Beebumble2]

My worry with wool would be carpet moth invasion. Although we have had wool carpets and underlay ourselves. No problem.

[WoolyMammoth55]

Yes @Beebumble2 me too!

Trying to find a good local fitter who I hope might advise us further. Ugh!

@PragmaticWench if I ever make a decision you'll be the first to know :)