Memory foam vs standard foam
Standard foam, also known as polyurethane (PU Foam) has been popular in the industry for bedding, furniture and sofa padding for as long as anyone can remember but did you know, it is also used to create carpet underlay.
The past years have seen a huge growth in technology, which has seen new sophisticated development and the introduction of incorporation memory foam, one of which Wilsons Underlays has recently started to manufacture.
Here we take a look at the two, allowing you to compare by breaking them both down and weighing up their separate pros and cons!
Memory foam vs standard recycled foam
Why is memory foam better than standard foam? Well the graph speaks for itself, but simply – under compression testing, standard foam recovers 78% as opposed to our underlays which are up to 92%.
This graph also indicates our foams hold their thickness better in the long run which in return results in a longer life performance of your carpet, enhanced comfort properties underfoot and less furniture indentation marks.
Standard foam.
Standard Foam (PU Foam) is possibly the most popular material to be used for items like bedding and furniture padding and is favored by most carpet underlay manufacturers given it is a cheaper material to recycle; it provides good levels of support and comfort underfoot to a carpet and has been widely popular throughout the carpet trade.
So, to sum up, the durability of standard foam completely depends on the density. Low density foams will begin to deteriorate after a few years use, whereas high density foams will last longer. It is a cheaper and affordable option which is attractive for many customers.
+ Very low cost to produce
+ Raw materials widely available
+ Available in a wide range of different density ratings 75kgm3 to 200kgm3
+ Provides sufficient pressure relief
– Can be inconsistent foam in some areas, sometimes lumpy
– Doesn’t provide full support (if low density)
– Not as durable as memory foam
Standard foam depends hugely on the density of the actual material. Lower density foam will start to under-perform after a couple years, whereas an underlay made from higher density foam for example, for that matter, is likely to last a lot longer, however, the higher the density over 120kgm3 will give a firmer/harder feeling underfoot. So not quite win-win.
Even low-density 75kgm3 to 85kgm3 standard foam in thicknesses between 7mm and 12mm will offer a sufficient level of comfort, how long it last before it flattens is another matter. A good range for comfort & durability is a thickness of 9mm to 12mm and a density between 100kg m3 and 120kg m3 Anything above 120kg+ will feel firmer and harder underfoot (not ideal as you want your carpets to feel soft) but will provide longer durability and help avoid those furniture marks.
In the form of an underlay foam will help provide thermal insulation and reduce the amount of heat that can escape through a floor or carpet and thus keeping your room warmer for longer.
Memory foam.
Viscoelastic foam (known as memory foam) is much more expensive foam that provides enhanced performance characteristics over some other types of foam. This type of foam is also well known for its ability to feel luxurious in beds and has exceptional recovery properties too meaning it lasts longer in hardwearing areas such as the stairs or hallways.
In an underlay, it provides an extremely luxurious feeling and has the ability to recover far better than any other foam making carpets last longer too (92% recovery vs 78% see graph above). This memory foam technology also makes it perform much better than standard foam underlays at things like resisting furniture indentation marks, increasing impact sound reduction (dB) and heat insulation (TOG).
Take a look at Plushwalk underlay that is our No.1 best seller which will take your carpets feeling to the next level!
+ Provides exceptional underfoot comfort when used in an underlay
+ Superb durability – almost never flattens regardless of density
+ Higher levels of heat insulation and sound reduction.
+ Absorbs footfall impacts better – supports the carpet increasing its life
– More expensive – extra processes and materials involved
– Slightly heavier rolls
Memory foam’s durability is not dependent on the density of the material. For example, Plushwalk with a density of 100kgm3 will recover and last longer than an equal standard foam 140kgm3 density. This is because memory foam viscoelastic properties give a far greater recovery. Recent test show that Memory foam recovers up to 92% on 1000 impacts vs 78% from an equal standard foam. This makes it the perfect underlay to last years to come.
Memory foam has a luxury sponge feeling to it and when used as an underlay it will provide a bounce-back effect similar to a mattress that uses memory foam, and when installed under a carpet, it will feel exceptionally soft and comfortable to walk on. This makes it ideal for rooms throughout the house such as living areas and bedrooms that require a comfy and cosy feel throughout.
When used as an underlay, memory foam provides excellent thermal insulation, and dramatically reduces the amount of heat that can escape through your carpets, even more so than a PU foam. This creates a warm environment throughout the home and can actually help to reduce energy bills as a result of this.
Find an underlay that incorporates memory foam.
If you think memory foam underlays are for you, why not check out our underlays that incorporate memory foam?