If you are planning to carpet or re-carpet your home, you will certainly know that most experts recommend installing an underlay beneath the carpet. A lot of people, however, choose to ignore this advice, being tempted by the thought of saving on an expensive installation that is over and above an already expensive purchase. It would be prudent, however, to keep in mind that all carpet retailers and even the office of fair trading recommend using an underlay, and their advice must hold some water.
Use of Carpet Underlay
The necessity for buying a carpet underlay arises from the fact that a carpet without an underlay will not sit properly on the floor. Without an underlay, you will notice that some parts of the carpet are higher or lower than others. To keep the carpet level, it is best to have an underlay. A carpet without an underlay, being uneven, will even wear out quicker.
Advantages of an Underlay
Besides the most important advantage of making your carpet look level and therefore, better, there are other advantages of installing an underlay too. In colder climates where carpeting is done also as a way of insulating oneself against the cold, an underlay helps insulate better. It traps the heat and keeps the chill away from your flooring and consequently away from your house. It also serves to soundproof your home. If you like practicing your drums and that disturbs your neighbors, or if your neighbors are the ones creating the noise that distracts you, it will pay to have a carpet underlay that soundproofs the house. That way, you can create as much noise as you want without angering too many neighbors. Moreover, an underlay has a protective function too. Your expensive carpets need to be protected from quick wear and tear. An underlay helps to do just that. It acts as a shock absorber and reduces the friction between the floor and the carpet. This in turn protects both the floor and the carpet. The footfall is absorbed by the underlay and it helps the fibers bounce back, making the carpet more convenient to walk on. However, be wary of buying a very thick carpet underlay as that may cause premature wearing out of the carpet.
Underlay Choices
There is a variety of carpet underlays available in the market today for you to choose from. Rubber waffle underlays are often a favorite of many, being of excellent quality. They do not wear out quickly or easily and have sufficient air space- a fact that makes walking on the carpet very pleasurable. Another sort of underlay is the Urethane padding or the Bond Urethane Underlay. It is made up of old furniture waste bound together in the form of carpet underlays.
Before deciding upon the kind of carpet underlay you want, keep in mind the kind of footfall the place will receive and the kind of material best suited for your needs. That way you can make an informed decision.