foam carpet underlay
waffle rubber underlay
carpet underlays are either made of foam, waffle rubber, or horse hair mixed with other materials. These are then subdivided into residential and commercial categories. Please be warned: the most expensive underlays aren't necessarily the best ones for your job. Plenty of projects are ruined as a result of such thinking.
Carpet underlay is another material standing between you and the cold concrete slab floor. It serves to act as a thermal insulator from the slab's coldness, and thereby increasing the comfort level of the home. The warmer temperature of the environment makes for cosier living. The same applies if it is a timber floor underneath. Upon footfall one experiences a softness of impact on the foot which acts to provide the walker with more comfort for his feet and leg and thereby the whole body. In addition, this cushioning effect by the underlay of the physical blows by feet on the carpet, reduces noise transfer and so the room is quieter. This is a further enhancement of the quality of life in the living inside a home.
A further effect of this blow cushioning effect of the underlay, is it protects the carpet from disintegration and so the carpet lasts longer.
This depends on the carpet and to an extent on the underlay. If the carpet is woven then horsehair is best. If your carpet is tufted then either foam or waffle rubber can do the job. The thickness of the underlay is crucial to the carpets longeviety. The thicker the underlay the greater distance the carpet travels when it is stood on. The greater the carpet travels the more it stretches. When carpet stretches it doesn't return to its original position like rubber. So sausages form in your carpet and your carpet becomes in need of a restretch. But this does't apply to some carpets that have a plastic backing. All in all its good to consult with a carpet layer on this issue.
Concord Floors trades in the sale and installation of underlays in the following areas as listed below: