Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Property/DIY

Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

Any recommendations for the warmest thermal carpet underlay?

7 replies

123togo · 14/10/2025 21:35

When we moved into our home we quickly had to buy and install carpet for the living room. It was a hot summer and we were skint so we just went for the middle option underlay and a cheapish carpet.

We have since realised that in winter, the cold really comes in through the floor. Even if we heat the room, the few inches above the floor remain quite chilly.

I’m thinking about getting a new, thicker pile carpet and the best underlay possible. Can I have some recommendations for brands that will be more insulating? Thank you ☺️

OP posts:
Ineedabiscuit · 14/10/2025 21:43

Bump

Mosaic123 · 14/10/2025 22:07

You might be able to keep the carpet and get the floor sealed and the underlay relaid too. We had dark marks all around the edge of the carpet which was from dirty dust coming up through a gap.

Ask at a small carpet shop.

Autumnlife · 14/10/2025 22:53

I’d go to a small independent carpet shop very helpful my living room is the coldest room in the house. I knew that carpets had a tog ratings just like duvets do. When I was looking at the carpet samples they had a tog rating on them. When they came out to measure up I discussed type of underlay and the reply was to have a close knitted felted one that stops the cold air coming up. I’m no carpet expert and haven’t had carpets in a downstairs room for years so it’s all a bit new for me too. My new carpet isn’t down yet so can’t really say weather it’s made a difference.

PigletJohn · 15/10/2025 00:07

Because of the way heat travels, a floor loses nothing by convection, and very little by conduction.

The cold you feel will be draughts, these are pretty sure to be coming up the gap under the skirting boards, from the ventilated void beneath. Black stains are from dirt and dust blowing up.

The best way to cure it is to take up the floorboards against the external walls, and pack the first foot with mineral wool (taking care not to block air bricks) between the joists and against the wall. Clean out all the dirt first with a small brush and a builders canister vac (building dust is gritty and damaging to domestic vacs).

The easiest (but not the best) is to pack the gaps under the skirting with foam or cork strips (don't use expanding foam, you will never clean it off)

As you have carpets, not bare boards, you will not be getting significant draughts through the rest of the floor.

If you ever need to take up or renew a floor, you can pack the whole thing with mineral wool berween the joists for a first class job. You staple mesh to the joists first to prevent it falling through the gaps.

The first foot, against the external walls, is the most important.

Modern mineral wool, treated with ecose, does not shed irritant dust or fibres. It is brown. I will never use yellow fibreglass.

123togo · 19/10/2025 12:52

Hi @PigletJohn that is very interesting thank you. I am intrigued about your suggestions. We do indeed have some staining around the perimeter of the carpet.

It’s not feasible right now for us to lift the floorboards and add mineral wool, though I agree that would be the best solution. We just can’t do that job right now as a family. (A Velcro baby, with no ‘village’ around us!)

However, I would love to know more about how to pack any gaps under the skirting board. Is there a particular foam or cork product you’d recommend? Also, wouldn’t the strips get pushed out of place when the carpet is re-laid and tucked under the skirting boards?

thank you for all your help!

OP posts:
PigletJohn · 19/10/2025 17:16

One I did earlier

Any recommendations for the warmest thermal carpet underlay?
New posts on this thread. Refresh page