Underlay
Underlay is part of the floor, not an extra
The carpet is what you see. The underlay is why it feels right and why it lasts. It is in the quote from the start.
If you searched for a particular underlay brand, you are in the right kind of conversation, even if this page will not pretend to be that brand's brochure. Underlay sits between the carpet and the floor. It changes the feel underfoot, it helps the carpet cope with the surface below, and a tired underlay is a common reason an older carpet feels dead before the face has worn out.
What we look at
The room, the carpet construction, and what is underneath. A bedroom can take a more cushioned feel than a stair. Stairs want support at the nose of the tread, not a spongy step. Concrete on the Gold Coast and timber upstairs are not the same job. We look at that on the free measure, not from a form.
What the quote covers
Take-up of the old flooring where it has to come out, underlay, the new flooring, and fitting by our own installers. That is the same sentence we use on the carpet page, because it is how the job is actually sold. There is not a second invoice for underlay after you have said yes.
Sound and feel, without a made-up number
A better underlay can make a room feel quieter and kinder underfoot. How much depends on the building, the carpet and the underlay together. We will not put a decibel claim on this page. If a body corporate or a builder has asked for a stated rating, bring the request and we will match a product to it, or tell you if we cannot.
Questions we hear in the showroom
Is underlay included in the quote?
Yes. A Cross Carpets quote is take-up of the old floor where that is needed, underlay, the flooring and installation, as one number.
Does thicker underlay always feel better?
Not always. Too soft under a carpet on stairs, or under a heavy piece of furniture, can be the wrong feel. We match the underlay to the carpet and the room rather than selling the thickest roll.
I have a brand name from another website. Can you use it?
Bring the name to the showroom or to the measure. We will tell you whether that underlay suits the carpet and the floor beneath it. We do not publish a specification sheet here for a product we have not just checked.
Related reading: carpet types, care, and wool.
Ready to talk about your floors?
Call us, drop into the Southport showroom, or book a free in-home measure & quote.