Felt-Back Carpet FAQs
What is a felt-back carpet?
A felt-back carpet has a soft felt layer bonded to the underside, in place of the traditional woven backing. The felt backing adds cushioning and stability, making it more comfortable to walk on, while also helping it sit neatly when fitted. Felt-backed carpets are popular in UK homes because they’re versatile, durable and can be fitted with or without carpet underlay, often making them quicker and more affordable to install than other carpet options.
How do I maintain felt-backed carpets?
Felt-backed carpets are a great low-maintenance option, and easy to look after with regular care. Routine vacuuming will remove dust and debris, while any spills should be dealt with quickly, but by blotting rather than rubbing. You might want to consider the occasional professional clean for your felt-back carpet, as this will help refresh the fibres and maintain the overall appearance.
Thanks to the supportive carpet felt backing, they tend to wear fairly evenly and hold their shape well over time. See our carpet care guide for a more detailed run down on keeping felt-backed carpets in good condition.
What types of felt-backed carpets are available?
Felt-back carpets are usually available in a range of styles, colours and pile types. This makes our felt-backed carpets suitable for everything from living rooms and bedrooms to stairs and hallways, offering a balance of comfort, practicality and style.
What sort of cost savings can be made on a felt-back carpet in comparison to standard carpets?
Because the felt backing provides built-in cushioning, it can be installed without a separate underlay, reducing material and fitting costs. Installation is sometimes quicker too, which may help lower overall labour charges compared to some standard carpet types.
At Tapi, our felt-backed carpets start at £9.99 per m2 – but take a look at our guide to carpet fitting costs, or try the handy carpet cost calculator on each product page for a more tailored quote.
Can I install felt backing carpet over underlay?
Yes! Felt-back carpet can be fitted with or without carpet underlay, but it’s still a great way to provide support for your carpet and help to enhance its comfort, insulation and sound reduction. Using underlay with a felt-back carpet can extend its lifespan and improve how it feels underfoot, particularly in bedrooms or high-traffic areas. Check out our carpet underlay guide to find out more.
Can you turn the felt-backed carpet leftover from my fitting into a mat?
Yes, we offer a ‘whipping’ service, which is the technical name for the action of edging an offcut of carpet, so that it can be made into a rug or mat. If you bring an offcut of your felt-backed carpet into your local store, they will be able to confirm the price for this service as well as how long it will take.
I’ve spilled something on my new felt-back Tapi carpet, what should I do?
Oh no! It’s always a panic-inducing moment when you see that glass of red wine tip over in slow motion onto your plush felt-back carpet, but the quicker you act, the less chance there is of it staining. You should have received a Tapi floor care guide by email when you placed your order, but you can also find out more in our carpet care guide, as well as our top tips on removing stains from your carpet.
What’s the best felt-backed carpet for pets?
The best option for a pet-friendly carpet is one with a short pile like a twist carpet. All the felt-backed carpets in our collection are made from 100% polypropylene, so they’re stain resistant – meaning any muddy paw prints or little accidents can be easily cleaned up.
Do you do felt-back carpets wider than 4m?
No, 4m is the widest felt-back carpet we have available. If you need a felt-backed carpet wider than 4m, then the fitters can join two pieces of carpet together in such a precise way that you'd never be able to tell, such as placing the join near the farthest wall, or underneath a sofa or large wardrobe. Our flooring experts can advise you of your options when they measure your floor, as well as suggest the best style of felt-backed carpets to choose so the join is less noticeable.
Why is there a line on my new felt-backed carpet?
There are two reasons why there might be a line running along the length of your new felt-backed carpet. The first reason is known as a pole mark and is caused by the pole that the carpet is tightly wrapped around during transportation. These indentations are normally found close to a wall and should fade away as the carpet becomes acclimatised to the room. You can help to speed up this process by regularly vacuum cleaning the line to bring the pile back up. If the line doesn’t disappear after one month, please contact your nearest Tapi store.
The second reason is known as a line fault and is caused by an issue in the carpet manufacturing process, resulting in a visible line of higher pile along the length of your carpet that won't disappear over time. If you have a line fault in your felt-backed carpet, please contact your nearest store and we'll arrange for the issue to be rectified.
