Underlay4u Blog

                  Owning a Buy-to-Let (BTL) property doesn’t always provide you with the instant ‘armchair landlord’ lifestyle you’d hoped for. A number of things can be a barrier, including that seemingly never-ending period when tenants are moving out. A way around this is to ensure your property is the very best that it can be, so that existing tenants will want to stay as long as possible – and you’ll experience no difficulty attracting new ones. Here we will go through a few quick fixes that will add value to your Buy to Let property: Increase storage to keep tenants happy If your property is essentially a few empty rooms, your tenants may find themselves outgrowing the space, and the idea of purchasing storage items can be off-putting to potential residents too. One idea is to place multi-functional storage units in the...

A well-restored period home is a marvel to look at. The work that goes into the restoration of certain structural elements can really drive the value of the home up, far outweighing the house renovation costs. And the properties themselves present a ready-made canvas for those that are new to development to learn their trade. However, there’s a certain expectation when working on a period home. Aside from the legal implications of altering a listed property, the home must look a certain way in order to be considered a satisfactory restoration. With this in mind, we’ve provided the four steps to your own successful renovation project.   Invest time in surveying the property If your property is listed that means it is legally protected against unauthorised modifications. Therefore it falls down to you, in the early stages of surveying the building, to research its history and...

  Peace and quiet isn’t the only thing you gain when your children finally leave home – you’ve got a spare room too. It’s very easy for it to become a dumping ground or a ‘junk room’ but why not transform it into a room you love instead? If you’re looking for some inspiration, we’ve got plenty of spare room ideas to share with you. Turn your spare room into a home office Perhaps the most obvious thing to do with your spare room is turn it into a home office. At the moment, your computer might be in the corner of the dining room or maybe you find yourself working on your laptop from the sofa instead. Even if you don’t work from home regularly, having a dedicated space where you can do ‘life admin’ and store your important files and documents can make a huge difference. The Decoist have written a fantastic article on how to create a healthy and relaxing home...

This article gives a clear, balanced and comprehensive review of a variety of popular Tredaire products. The Tredaire brand is one of the most versatile, high quality and recognisable laminate & carpet underlay ranges available, and is manufactured by Interfloor in the UK. Interfloor products are used in homes, hotels, businesses, restaurants and other buildings all around the world. The materials used are environmentally-friendly, with plenty of treated and recycled materials being used. Here at U4U we stock a range of the most popular Tredaire products, with something for every part of the house. In this article we review the key specifications and measurements that you need to take into account when choosing underlay, and then take a closer look at each of the different Tredaire products. The Most Purchased Tredaire Product Important Tredaire Specifications There are a handful...

A lot of our customers here at Underlay4u regularly ask for our advice on how to fit their own underlay in order to save a bit of the costs and time associated with DIY projects, and do things on their own schedule. We get it – life is busy these days. DIY jobs need to get done when they get done, and not at a time that will disrupt the rest of your life. Wouldn’t it be great if instead of having to be at home to let the carpet fitters in, or arrange for a relative to drop round in the middle of the day with the spare keys to open up, you could just do it in the evening after work, or on Sunday when the kids are at football? In this post we’d like to go through the steps you can take in order to fit your own underlay quickly and easily, and also how to make the most of the process in doing up your home. Actually laying the underlay is quite an easy task once you have everything...

This article will give you clear and thorough guidance into the different cloud 9 carpet underlay or laminate/ wood flooring options, that are currently available from Ball & Young manufacturers. Ball & Young is a company that’s dedicated to manufacturing their products in the UK. The foam underlay from Ball & Young is known to have good compression recovery properties and often a good degree of comfort depending which product you choose. Top products from Ball & Young... cloud 9 cumulus 11mm Cloud 9 Cirrus 9mm   Before looking at the full range of products, let’s take a look at the important specifications, how to choose the right Cloud 9 products and where to find the best prices. We’ll also address one of the most common questions – 9mm vs 11mm.   Important Cloud 9 specifications There’s a few specifications to look out for when choosing...

Can you use carpet underlay for a rug? There’s a lot of people wondering whether it’s good or bad to use underlay under a rug and if there are any benefits of doing so. The short answer is that many people have found good uses for carpet underlay beneath their rug, however a few important considerations need to be understood first. In this post we’re going to look at how to decide which is the best underlay for your rug and what to consider when making your buying decision. First, here’s the improvements that it can give your rug. Improved cushioning The first reason people add carpet underlay to their rug, is because it gives a nice cushioning. This is particularly true for hard floors, usually laminate or wood. By adding a rug with cushioning, they find it much more comfortable on the feet or for relaxing on.   Thickening up the rug Making the rug look thicker is also a...

  Tog ratings are the most important factor for many customers who are looking to purchase an insulating underlay. A higher tog rating means that the underlay will do a better job at keeping a room warm. An underlay with a high tog rating can make a huge difference to a cold concrete subfloor or draughty floorboards. Not only will it prevent warm air escaping – it will also act as a barrier to cold air trying to get in. Best Carpet Underlay for Insulation Carpet underlays can be thicker than those used with laminate flooring, so they have a higher tog rating because they are naturally more insulating. Carpenter Midas 12mm Underlay – 3.26 Tog Rating The Midas 12 is the number one underlay for insulation. It’s a luxury feeling product with a very high tog rating of 3.26. As well as keeping your home that little bit warmer, the Midas 12mm also has great sound insulation. The...

I’ve heard PU foam is a good option for underlay, but what are the best products? We have many customers ask us this question, which is why we have put together this simple guide to PU foam underlay. In this post you will find the best foam products for carpet, laminate flooring, the stairs, contract use and more. We will also explain what PU foam is and why it’s great for the environment. Keep reading to find out our top picks for buying underlay on a budget and why PU foam has the advantage over sponge rubber. First, we’ll look at the different PU Foam products in this order Foam for Laminate High End Luxury for Carpet Best Value The thickest High Density (for stairs) Heavy Duty   Best Foam Product for Laminate Laminate flooring has become a very popular choice for the home in recent years. With the improvement of its quality and wood-like authenticity, many customers...

Who thought tog rating would be such a significant factor in making your decision when choosing an underlay. In fact, 90% of our customers buy theirs based on the tog rating alone. So in this article, we’re showing you which are the best underlays for the highest tog, on the market today. Buying the lowest tog is also an important factor when making your purchase decision. So we’ll also show you which are the best for that and explain why. In this article, we tell you everything about tog rating and why it's important. But first, here's the products that are most relevant to your decision making.   Highest TOG Rated products for insulating warmth...     No. 2 Cloud 9 Cumulus 3.1 TOG The Cloud 9 Cumulus is a comfortable, thick underlay with excellent sound reduction properties and a high tog rating. No.3 Underlay4U 12mm 2.93 TOG The Underlay4U has a 12mm...

There are many reasons to fit underlay in your home, the main one being to protect your flooring and prolong the life of it. For some, the most important factor is comfort. Underlay can have various levels of comfort depending on: Thickness Material Density Tog. Underlay with a high level of comfort is usually required for areas of relaxation, which could be the bedroom, dining room or lounge. In this article we are going to discuss the most luxurious and comfortable underlays for every budget.   Best carpet underlays for the bedroom   When it comes to a bedroom, there is usually not very high foot traffic and the focus is mainly on comfort and a soft underfoot feel. Buy Tredaire Dreamwalk for your bedroom The Tredaire Dreamwalk is a luxurious underlay that provides excellent cushioning and a soft underfoot feel. The Tredaire Dreamwalk is a luxurious carpet...

The stairs probably receive the most concentrated foot traffic in your home, which can take its toll on your carpet. So, what can you do about this? How can you protect your carpet? A good quality underlay makes a huge difference on the stairs, but it can be difficult choosing the right one. This area of your home can be complex and there are many factors to consider before purchasing underlay. In this article we are going to cover if underlay is necessary for the stairs, which underlay is best and if it can be used in other parts of the house. An Insight to the Carpenter Ultra Step Buy Carpenter Ultra Step for a highly durable result Buy the Carepenter Ultra Step for an underlay that has been designed for durability and comfort. BUY ULTRA STEP HERE Ultra Step Benefits in summary:  The Ultra step a high-quality option which is perfect for the stairs, here are the top...

Contents Best Soundproof for Carpet underlay Best Soundproof for wooden or Laminate flooring Soundproofing underlay for underfloor heating Are you getting the best out of your underlay? The main purpose of underlay is to, of course, protect your flooring. But, what if you could bring some peace and quiet to your home at the same time as protecting your carpet? You can also benefit from better heat insulation and so many other features. This article will tell you exactly how beneficial soundproof underlay can be and how to find the right one for your specific environment. Did you know that many companies claim to be have soundproof products that may not actually work? Keep reading to find out how to avoid being mis-sold and be one step ahead of misleading sales pitches. Soundproof Underlay for Best Noise Reduction The Tredaire Colours Red is our best underlay for impact noise...

Do I need special underlay for underfloor heating? Underlay is vital for any kind of flooring but if you have underfloor heating, there are a few more factors to consider. Lots of underlays are designed to be thick and cushion-like so they feel soft and also provide insulation. These sorts of products do not work with underfloor heating because they act as a barrier to the heat trying to come through. Instead, you need a thin product with a low tog rating. Which underlay you need will also depend on whether you’re laying carpet or laminate over your underfloor heating. This blog post will cover the best underfloor heating underlays for use with carpet, laminate and engineered wood flooring. It will also touch on some of the problems associated with certain flooring types and highlight some of the most important factors to consider when purchasing both underlay and flooring. The...

Carpet is a sophisticated and stylish choice for the home and is the ideal choice for a cooler climate. If you're installing brand new carpets in your home, you'll want to know how much it costs to lay carpet per square metre so you can make smart choices that fit your budget. But there's more to carpet laying than simply buying a good quality carpet at the right price. You'll also need to think about the cost of accessories like gripper rods and door plates, labour and underlay. Calculating the cost You'll need to total up four figures if you want to have a truly accurate idea of how much it costs to lay carpet per square metre: • The cost of the carpet per square metre • The cost of the underlay per square metre • The cost of installation per square metre • The cost of any accessories required Do I need underlay? If you want to cut costs when laying carpet then skipping the...