The underlay is a thick pad that goes under the floor which is then securely tacked down.

The thickness of the carpet underlay will determine the amount of noise that you get in your home. For example a thin underlay may allow the upstairs noises to travel through the ceiling which you may also find causes an echo in the room. Therefore the main reason for using a carpet underlay is to try and eliminate this noise as much as possible.

You should also consider the softness of the carpet. A thicker underlay pad will eliminate a lot of noise, but will also provide more between you and the concrete or plywood flooring on the foundation. This allows for more comfort which is a vital point for you to have in your home.

The types of underlay will vary from company to company; this is why it is best to shop around before making any rational decisions. You also have to consider the different thickness of the carpet underlay. Some companies can offer underlay foam with a width of 1.37m which is the same as Softwalk, Step and Sterling.

There is also a thicker underlay available as well as something a little thinner.

The underlay will come in a roll with a normal length of 11 meters in the roll. Most of the carpet underlay is going to be rated for heavy domestic use, general domestic use, or luxury use. Again this all depends on the brand and the thickness of the actual pad.

What it really comes down to when choosing the right underlay is going to be the cost between the brands and your budget. The thicker material will be more expensive than the slimmer materials. The thickest material is a width of 1.37m and a length of 11 m with 9mm thickness. Other thicknesses of carpet underlay vary from 6mm to 7mm.

With the benefits of carpet underlay you definitely want to make sure that you have that option well in hand. As we mentioned above, the cost may make the choice for you, but consider the advantages of sound that will not carry throughout the home. Sometimes saving a little money is not worth it in the long run.

There are more than six different companies offering carpet underlay. You can search out these companies online or find a place that sells them all. By comparing the costs and the thickness you should have some pretty great products to choose from.

To make sure the noise level is kept down to a bare minimum and to ensure you end up with the comfort in your home, look for something that will be at least 7mm thick or more. The width and length will generally be standard.