Which Carpet Underlay is Right for You

Choosing a new carpet can be a difficult experience. You need to think about color, style, what type of pile to have and what fibers it should be made from. But even when you’ve decided on all that, you still have the underlay to consider.

Underlay is a vital part of any carpet installation. Even though you won’t actually see it once the carpet is laid you will certainly feel it – or the lack thereof. So it makes sense to explore the options and to consider which carpet underlay you should get.

Firstly it is important to understand that you can’t get away without installing an underlay. The underlay vastly lengthens the life of your carpet and also makes it more appealing underfoot. If you have ever walked on a gorgeously squishy and soft carpet, you can bet there is a heavy duty and very thick underlay underneath that is helping to provide that feeling.

How thick do you want your carpet to feel?

Underlay comes in different thicknesses. The thicker a piece of underlay is, the better it will feel underfoot and the better it will be at reducing noise levels when people are walking on it. Thus a thicker underlay is more desirable, especially for high traffic areas as it will make your carpet last longer too.

Is it true that spending more money on an underlay means you can get a cheaper carpet that feels just as good as a more expensive one?

There is some truth to this, yes. Certainly if you are getting a cheap carpet it pays to get the most expensive underlay you can afford to make it feel a thousand times better. If you are on a budget get some prices for some carpet-underlay combinations that bear this fact in mind.

Are there any types of carpets that would not need underlay of any kind?

There is one main type you should avoid having underlay with, and that is any carpet that has a foam backing. All other types of carpets, including woven carpets and those with a felt backing, require underlay.

So the best type of underlay in most situations is the best one you can afford?

That’s exactly right. Consult your carpet provider to get more information on the different types of underlay they have available to purchase. But for the most part you can expect to get better results with a better underlay. Not only will you benefit from a more luxurious finish and less noise, you will also benefit from a better insulated home. You won’t experience any more draughts coming up through the floorboards when you have a decent underlay preventing them from seeping up through the floor.

Of course you may well want a luxurious carpet to finish off a room to the best effect. But as you can see it pays dividends to get an outstanding quality underlay – even though you’ll never see it again once the carpet is down.