Mystery undercarpet sheet Help, advice, information, answers and tips on all types of flooring from laminate and carpet to timber and vinyl

[splutter]

Hi. I have just bought an old house with a 1960s extension. I lifted the carpet and underlay in one of the rooms yesterday, to discover sheets of an odd material nailed to the floorboards. I have attached two photos. It has been severly dented by feet of bed etc, so is obviously a bit pliant, but quite firm to walk on. It has a plastic or foam look to it, but it clearly full of 'fibres'. Can anyone tell me what it might be made of please, and its purpose? Thanks in advance. Graham

[welsh brickie]

its called fibreboard and used for sound insulation.

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Hi Welsh brickie,

thank you very much for this. Given the age of the extension, I was worried that the sheets might contain asbestos. Being for sound-proofing this is unlikely then, presumably? I'm going to lay new underlay and carpet. Because the fibreboard is so dimpled, I plan to remove it first. But can the hollows be filled somehow instead? Thanks again.

[welsh brickie]

no the holes cant be filled in,either replace or remove it.

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Thank you very much Welsh brickie, much appreciated.

[diynovice123]

Hi

I've just been taking up the carpet in our house and beneath the underlay there are a few clumps of hair/wool like material stuck to the floor. I'm concerned it may be asbestos. Has anyone come across anything like this before and have an idea about what it might be? I've attached a few images. Help much appreciated.

[welsh brickie]

its looks like fibres from an old underlay, asbestos was not used to cover any type of flooring, it was mostly used for roofs, it is highly unlikely to be asbestos, use gloves and a partical mask as a precaution anyway