Dunlop Flooring

At Dunlop Flooring we are happy to help with any queries. However, to make life easier we have included these frequently asked questions about carpet cushion.

Why use Dunlop Flooring's Carpet Cushion?
Although often an afterthought, a carpet cushion is a vital component when installing new carpet. Having the right underlay ensures you enjoy the full potential of your new carpet for its expected life and it means you’ll also be enjoying the following great benefits:

Improved comfort: Carpet cushion significantly increases the level of comfort underfoot regardless of the quality and thickness of the carpet. Make sure that your carpet cushion uses high-quality foam which feels great underfoot and performs for the life of your carpet.

Improved appearance: Carpet will appear richer and more luxurious with a good carpet cushion. Carpet cushion is designed to absorb impact and so is better for the long-term performance of your carpet.

Improved acoustic insulation: Installing carpet cushion not only reduces sound in the room itself but also reduces the transference of sound to rooms that may be below.

Improved thermal insulation: Carpet cushion provides an additional layer of insulation which decreases heat loss through floorboards and also reduces the incidence of underfloor draughts. Not only does this create a warmer internal environment, but it also helps to reduce the cost of heating your home.

Is it ok to lay new carpet on my existing carpet cushion?
Laying new carpet on an existing carpet cushion is not recommended as it can reduce the life of your carpet and void the manufacturer's warranty. Using old underlay decreases the level of comfort and support underfoot as it will have fatigued or flattened over time, resulting in less resilience. It can also leave wear patterns from the previous carpet in high traffic areas.

Does the use of carpet cushion benefit those with asthma or allergies?
Dunlop Flooring has a number of products available that are protected with anti-microbial solutions. The addition of these during manufacture helps to protect against mould, mildew, bacteria, and dust mites which are known triggers for asthma and allergies.

Can comfort be achieved on a very tight budget?
Dunlop Flooring has a wide range of affordable carpet cushion solutions that are suitable for those wanting maximum support on a very tight budget. However, be wary of underlays in the market that are not necessarily up to scratch. Some carpet cushions won’t come close to passing the minimum standards or are made with foams from cheaper sources, such as second-hand foam recovered from old mattresses or furniture, or foam trims that are not from the comfort industry such as packaging, filter, or automotive foams.

Is Dunlop Carpet Cushion environmentally friendly?
Yes, Dunlop Carpet Cushion is manufactured using new high-quality foam off-cuts from New Zealand and European furniture and bed factories that have the required comfort properties. These off-cuts are otherwise destined for landfill and make up over 90% of the materials used. We also recycle the trims generated in Dunlop Carpet Cushion installations. What’s more, Dunlop Carpet Cushion is also accredited by the Carpet & Rug Institute’s Green Label Plus programme, which identifies products that promote superior indoor air quality.

Can Dunlop Carpet Cushion be used with underfloor heating?
Yes – carpet cushion can be used with underfloor heating, however, the temperature should not exceed 40°C. It is also important to remember that carpet cushion has insulation properties and so the thicker the product, the less effective the underfloor heating will be.

Where can I purchase a Dunlop Carpet Cushion?
On where to buy to check our retail partners in your region.

Dunlop Flooring uses post-industrial comfort foam offcuts generated in the manufacture of furniture and beds and have an active programme of recycling off cut generated in the carpet cushion installation.

Recycle by Dunlop

Dunlop Flooring uses new high-quality foam offcuts from furniture and bed factories and has an active programme recycling Dunlop trims leftover from installations.

Dunlop partners with participating carpet retailers to collect unused carpet cushion, together with off-cuts and trims, for distribution back to our manufacturing facility. Here it is sorted and ultimately recycled into the new reusable underlay. This brand new carpet cushion is then passed on to the retailer, who in turn installs this within your home or office under your new carpet.

Dunlop Carpet Cushion can also save you money by reducing heating bills thanks to its outstanding thermal insulation properties. All of our products are CRI Green Land certified; meeting the highest internationally accepted indoor air quality standards for carpet cushion.

Dunlop Flooring provides a wide range of Carpet Cushion products that include the addition of antimicrobial protection.

Why Antimicrobial?

Carpet Cushion that includes antimicrobial protection inhibits the growth of mould, mildew, bacteria, and dust mites; which are significant triggers for asthma and allergies.

Children playing on floors, and those with asthma and allergies specifically benefit from the use of antimicrobial protection within the home. For example, flooring is often a frequent source of unwanted microbes, which can grow as a result of moisture, spills, and dirt trapped within the carpet. These microbes can include harmful mould (fungi), mildew (fungi), and bacteria; and include part of the house dust-mite lifecycle. Microbes can also cause odours and staining within carpets and carpet cushions, leading to increased wearing and degradation of textile floor coverings.

Antimicrobial protection can reduce the incidence of these allergens, odours, and staining, by disabling the microbe's ability to function, grow and reproduce.

By choosing to partner new carpet with a cushion that includes antimicrobial protection, homeowners can feel satisfied with this added level of protection for a fresh and healthy home environment.

It is important to note that regardless of how well antimicrobial carpet cushion performs, it is not a substitute for proper care, cleaning, and maintenance of carpet. Homeowners should vacuum regularly, clean up spills immediately, and shampoo carpets professionally every 12 to 18 months.

Independent Product Certifications

Dunlop Flooring is proud to be the only manufacturer in New Zealand whose carpet cushion is independently certified to the SAI Global 5 Ticks mark to exceed New Zealand’s recognised standard for soft underlays AS4288:2003. This standard sets out the minimum requirements for the manufacture of underlay and provides an industry-accepted level of quality, performance, and safety that all soft underlays should meet.

New Zealand’s only 5 Ticks certified carpet cushion

Dunlop Carpet Cushion is made in New Zealand using our world-leading Maxbond™ Cushioning System. We only use high-quality materials and processes that guarantee the best comfort per kilo of foam is delivered to ensure a long-lasting luxurious feel.

The SAI Global 5 Ticks mark means that our product has been certified by SAI Global as exceeding the required standards and we have demonstrated effective systems in place to ensure processes, product quality, and material sourcing are at the consistently high levels required.

CRI Green Label Plus Accreditation

Dunlop Carpet Cushion is certified by the Carpet Rug Institute Indoor Air Quality Programme. This programme identifies products that have low VOC’s which help promote superior indoor air quality.

Carpet & Rug Institute Green Label PLUS Certification

The Green Label Plus certification ensures your underlay is amongst the lowest emitting carpet cushion in the market.

Dunlop Carpet Cushion conforms to the strict standards set by the Carpet & Rug Institute (USA) Indoor Air Quality Programme for carpet cushion. Dunlop Carpet Cushion is tested by an independent testing laboratory for over 35 potential volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and has demonstrated compliance to these strict emission standards.

Dunlop Flooring has developed a world-leading manufacturing system which means that the consistency, performance, and quality of our carpet cushion is maximised in every way. Product made with the Maxbond™ Cushioning System ensures you receive the best experience and performance possible from your carpet investment.

Quality Guaranteed

Australian Standards Certification
Dunlop Carpet Cushion is certified to exceed the Australian Standard AS4288:2003 for soft underlays. This is New Zealand’s recognised standard as required by the joint Australian and New Zealand flooring installation standard AS/NZS2455.1.2007.

CRI Green Label Plus Accreditation
Dunlop Carpet Cushion is certified by the Carpet Rug Institute Indoor Air Quality Programme. This programme identifies products that have low VOC’s which help promote superior indoor air quality.

Dunlop Guarantee
Dunlop Carpet Cushion is guaranteed for the life of the carpet.

Made in New Zealand
Dunlop Carpet Cushion is proudly made in New Zealand by Dunlop Flooring Limited. Made to New Zealand's high expectations.

Comfort Assured

Comfort guide
Look for our easy guide on comfort. The higher the rating the better the comfort. Make sure you try the different options.

Density
Density is a key contributor to comfort which includes the quality of material used. Maxbond products only use high-performance comfort foams giving you the best comfort.

Thickness
Thickness is a key factor to overall comfort, normally the thicker the better but this depends on the density it is combined with. The number shown represents a nominal thickness in mm.

Antimicrobial Protection
Options are available that include antimicrobial protection proven to inhibit the growth of bacteria, mold, mildew, and dust mites for a healthier home.

There are a large number of systematic processes that we undertake, which when combined, create Maxbond™ quality Carpet Cushion.

When it comes to materials we only use:

• New, high-quality foam off-cuts from New Zealand and European furniture and bed factories that have the required comfort properties. We do not use foam made for non-comfort applications or foam recovered from old furniture and beds. We also do not source foams from Asia due to inconsistent results around quality (for example, performance, fillers, cleanliness, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emissions).
• The high-quality Dunlop Slipcoat Laminate System ensures installers have an optimum environment for installing carpet as well as a good level of moisture resistance.
• High-quality Dunlop Quadmesh™ webbing developed for leading structural support, adding the assurance of correct installation, no stretching, easy trimming, and extra support for areas under heavy loads.

Our processes are state of the art, and include:

• Innovative foam mixing and cutting processes to ensure the spring in the foam is retained and provides a consistent high-quality feel.
• Sophisticated filtering systems for removing materials that don’t contribute to comfort.
• Lot control systems enabling full traceability of finished product right throughout the manufacturing process.
• Well-trained, experienced, and dedicated staff focus on delivering Advanced Underfoot Comfort.

Dunlop Carpet Cushion is proven to perform and, of course, we are proud to confirm that it is all made right here in New Zealand.

Dunlop Carpet Cushion is made in New Zealand using their world-leading MaxbondTM Cushioning System. They only use high-quality materials and processes that guarantee the best comfort per kilo of foam is delivered to ensure a long-lasting luxurious feel.

Featuring advanced, proven technology certified for peace of mind, Dunlop Underlay is simply the best choice for your carpet’s comfort, performance, and durability.

Dunlop Flooring is the only manufacturer and supplier of a carpet cushion in New Zealand independently certified to SAI Global 5 Ticks mark to exceed New Zealand’s recognised standard for soft underlays AS4288:2023 and also Carpet & Rug Institute’s Green Label Plus indoor air quality programme. This ensures that when you purchase Dunlop Carpet Cushion you get an underlay that exceeds the required levels of excellence, performance, and air quality safety.

NZ’s only 5 Tick Certified Carpet Cushion

Dunlop Flooring is proud to be the only manufacturer in New Zealand that is 5 tick certified against the recognised standard for soft underlays AS4288:2003.

This standard sets out the minimum requirements for the manufacture of underlay and provides an industry-accepted level of quality, performance, and safety that all soft underlays should meet.

As the only manufacturer in New Zealand to receive 5 tick certification against the standard, Dunlop Flooring has proven to SAI Global (an independent company that verifies compliance) that in house procedures, on-going testing, product quality, material sourcing, and traceability is demonstrated at a consistently high level to ensure the requirements under the standard are always exceeded.