To not have underlay for carpets in new build?

[MoiraNotRuby]

Has anyone ever skipped underlay and how much difference did it make? I am moving to a well-insulated small-roomed house and need to carpet the whole place. Had a quote for a carpet that can be laid without underlay and it would save a lot of money.

Context is that I am working 3 jobs and still having to borrow money for the floor so want to minimise what I spend. I know everyone says 'get the best underlay you can afford' but realistically am I going to regret the lack of underlay or is it truly worth getting into more debt?

Always buy underlay.
Always buy the best underlay you can afford.
Buy cheaper carpet to make up the difference if needed.

Good quality underlay can be reused and makes a big difference.

If it's felt or foam backed carpet, you can get away without underlay. There are advantages to underlay in that it can provide heat and sound insulation and perhaps make the carpet wear better. In your shoes, when it would mean getting into further debt, I would skip underlay and put down rugs or runners on top of the new carpet. That would give you a lot of the same benefits and you can gradually source rugs/runners free or cheap. You can use cheap carpet remnants or second hand bits of carpet as big rugs and runners. Lots of info and tips online about how to do this.

Assume you mean something like this @MoiraNotRuby?

Have you been to have a look at them? More importantly, have you walked on it to see what it will feel like?

Most new builds have terrible sound proofing so I would get the best underlay possible.

Unless you buy a specialist acoustic underlay, standard underlays make no difference to acoustics.

It will be horrible without underlay. You can’t skip it. And you will pay more in the long run because your carpets will wear out quicker without it

I don’t think you need underlay with a felt backed carpet. We had them for the dc bedrooms when we first moved in as they were the cheaper option. We’ve since re-replaced two out of three of them after about 5-6 years. Youngest dc still likes the colour, so we’ve left theirs for now. You can Really tell the difference underfoot, it’s not as soft and not as comfortable to sit and play on.

We have tried to save money by not having underlay in the past, bought end of roll and fitted it oursrlves but tbh it wasn't great, underlay makes a big big difference. More cushioning , soundproofing etc just much much better so I wouldn't recommend going without unless you really have to.

Felt backed carpet is different to hessian backed carpet, and different again to the old foam backed carpet.

Get what you get, and replace as and when you can. It's not worth going further into debt than you need to.

100% get underlay we moved into a house with just brown paper as underlay and we’ve just replaced the carpets and put new proper underlay in and it makes such a difference. The carpet fitter said the bounce from the carpet comes from the underlay not the carpet. So as other have suggested cut back on the carpet price and get underlay

Can you get second hand underlay from a give away site?

What about getting cheap rugs from Ikea and carpeting later when you can afford underlay?

I own a carpet shop. You can get carpets with built in underlay but it's not the same as buying underlay separate, they won't feel the same and don't wear as well. If you need to save money spend on a good underlay and save on a cheaper carpet. I would never recommend putting a carpet down without underlay even if the carpet has a backing where it can be put down without it.

There are foam backed carpets designed to be used without underlay.

Are you carpeting the downstairs too? If so I doubt it will be floorboards there, newbuilds are usually concrete downstairs which is very hard and very cold. Your carpets would wear down really quickly on that I think.

@BIWI

Assume you mean something like this *@MoiraNotRuby*?

Have you been to have a look at them? More importantly, have you walked on it to see what it will feel like?

Yes that sort of thing. No so far I have just emailed a few potential suppliers to see how cheaply they can carpet the house. One came back with this as an option but I don't know anyone irl who has done this.

@DappledShade

Are you carpeting the downstairs too? If so I doubt it will be floorboards there, newbuilds are usually concrete downstairs which is very hard and very cold. Your carpets would wear down really quickly on that I think.

Yes, downstairs too. TBF I'd actually quite like the look of a concrete lounge floor with rugs... not sure the dog would be overjoyed though.

Carpet shops charge such a lot. Have you tried finding an independent carpet fitter. They come round with books of much better value carpet.

@Jilly345

I own a carpet shop. You can get carpets with built in underlay but it's not the same as buying underlay separate, they won't feel the same and don't wear as well. If you need to save money spend on a good underlay and save on a cheaper carpet. I would never recommend putting a carpet down without underlay even if the carpet has a backing where it can be put down without it.

Thank you. I'm already getting the cheapest carpet I can but appreciate your advice. Do your customers tend to report back so you know how their carpet is doing a year /few years on?

@Cleothecat75

I don’t think you need underlay with a felt backed carpet. We had them for the dc bedrooms when we first moved in as they were the cheaper option. We’ve since re-replaced two out of three of them after about 5-6 years. Youngest dc still likes the colour, so we’ve left theirs for now. You can Really tell the difference underfoot, it’s not as soft and not as comfortable to sit and play on.

Thank you. Sounds like it would be ok in the bedrooms then, none of us sit on our bedroom floors.

@ItsDinah

If it's felt or foam backed carpet, you can get away without underlay. There are advantages to underlay in that it can provide heat and sound insulation and perhaps make the carpet wear better. In your shoes, when it would mean getting into further debt, I would skip underlay and put down rugs or runners on top of the new carpet. That would give you a lot of the same benefits and you can gradually source rugs/runners free or cheap. You can use cheap carpet remnants or second hand bits of carpet as big rugs and runners. Lots of info and tips online about how to do this.

Thanks, this is really practical and a good idea.

@Chely

Underlay is more important than the carpet

I agree.

If its felt backed carpet, I wouldn't bother with underlay. Felt backed carpets are shit and you'll be replacing it in a maximum of 5 years anyway.

Hessian backed carpets you can't fit without underlay and you're best to get the thickest you can afford as otherwise your nice new carpet just gets worn away from being crushed between two hard surfaces. (The subfloor and your foot)
Underlay gives it somewhere to compress into so it springs back up.

The only time we've put carpets down without underlay is for landlords in rentals where they plan on ripping them up and replacing again in a few years time so we don't hear back from any customers about wear.x

Never had underlay until 98.
Never. Ever . Would I go back to No under lay - it makes so much difference.

Hi, we skipped underlay and bought carpet that could go straight in the floor, it was felt backed. We did it because we planned to move and were just putting carpet down to make the place more presentable. BIG MISTAKE it went flat and awful really very quickly, took us a long time to sell and it looked like It needed replacing within a year. We did replace it in 2 years as we decided to have an extension instead of moving.