Underlay and Gripper Rods

Ms_Chocaholic

My parents are getting new carpets throughtout and, rather than purchase the underlay and gripper rods (not needed for all rooms), can anyone recommend where these can be purchased at reduced rates.

Also if anyone can give me some advice on the type of underlay that is needed, that would be fabulous.

Thank you

Ms Choc x

Gastines2

There are plenty of firms advertising on the web who will supply underlay and gripper for the next day delivery,also local carpet shops,not the chains,will often be able to supply cheaper. Worth using a decent quality underlay as it is a false economy to spend money on a decent carpet and scrimp on the underlay.Amazed by how many customers think they can use the old carpet as underlay,have you noticed how the rugs creep along on your carpet?That's what causes the wear.
Also worth remembering that you will probably need less underlay than carpet as most carpets are now supplied in 4metre widths and often have a few metres of waste,underlay can be used more economically and joins taped.One of the best ways that shops increase their profit on a job is by charging for the same amount!!!!

cyclonebri1

So are you having fitted carpets and trying to save money by sourcing the ancilliaries yourself or are you going to fit it yourselves?

I think you really are on a hiding to nothing if it's the former, if anything went wrong , say there was a wear issue, it would certainly result in a blame confrontation.

Go with a reputable company and let them handle the lot, you will save little or possibly even cost yourself money, and leave yourself wide open in the long term.

Other suggestion is go with a better grade of underlay than they offer as standard or chuck in as a so called freebie.

By all means price it up for reassurance but I wouldn't split the job unless there was a radical saving, ( in actual fact I wouldn't split the job full stop.)

Taking it to the other extreme I actually made my own carpet stretcher so I could fit my own, and there is still little to be saved when you consider how quickly those guys work. The stretcher is now confined to the garage and only appears if we have to lift a carpet for some reason.;);)

Paul_the_Painter

For hall stairs and landing use crumb rubber (an example would be duralay treadmore) it doesn't crush and is best in areas of heavier wear.
For bedrooms I would use a foam underlay (cloud 9 would be an example) this is softer, wear is fine, and in fact I have used it in my own house on the stairs, but I did live on my own at the time.
For living areas downstairs, a lot depends on the layout and the health of the occupants. If for example the lounge is entered correctly from the front door, and it also functions as a hallway, I would use crumb rubber, if it is a traditional 4 bed detached layout with a totally separate lounge, I would go for a foam underlay. The exception is if you or anyone in the house is disabled, or may become so during the life of the carpet, in which case use crumb rubber as it is much easier to move a wheelchair over. If they are currently disabled consider durafit, this involves a crumb rubber underlay glued to the floor, and glued to the carpet. If you do this get great quality carpet (£25-40 per square metre, as you really don't want to be taking it up, it could take days to take it up.
You only need gripper if you don't have any at the moment, it is not routinely replaced, going rate from a fitter is £1.00/stick (1.5m)
Please also note that if you are getting carpet and fitting from a shop that is what you are paying for, they will not fit your underlay and gripper for you unless you have bought it from them. (Although cash to the fitter on the day can work wonders)
Private fitting direct from a fitter, about £2 - £3 psm. This assumes empty rooms, don't think you can work around them and move furniture from room to room as they work, you can't, they will work much faster than you. Just ask for a price to include furniture moving.

rds60h

As Paul The Painter says, crumb rubber such as Duralay Treadmore is about the best to use on stairs and hallway, but an underlay that can be used throughout the whole house and provides a quality finish and will be durable is TreadAire Dreamwalk 11mm, if you research this you will find most carpet fitters will happily recommend this product.
The cheapest I have been able to find this has been http://www.floors4home.co.uk/tredaire-carpet-underlay/tredairepuunderlay/dreamwalk-carpet-underlay-seventh-heaven-7th-heaven-151/
This is much cheaper than most suppliers and as an idea of how much the large carpet shops make on this product, Carpet Right only stock TreadAire up to 10mm and charge £8.99 per sq mt !!!
I think you will find the link I have given you will be difficult to beat on any of their prices any delivery is free, by the way I have absolutely no connection to the company or any one who works for them nor do I live anywhere near them or receive recompense for recommending them.