Why Good Carpet Underlay Is Important

Most carpets are installed on top of an underlay that many tend to overlook because it is unseen and its benefits are not clearly understood.

Underlays provide:

    * stability,

    * comfortable step,

    * carpet protection against crushing forces from furniture and foot traffic,

    * additional acoustic and thermal insulation

    * generally extends the life of your carpet

Underlays come in several types:

Felt: This type of underlay was commonly used in the past and is made of natural fibers like jute waste material and wool or a combination of fibers. It provides a dense and firm underlay but is now seldom used.

Rubber waffle underlay: This is considered of good quality although it can be the most expensive. It comes in different degrees of softness but what you're looking for should feel firm not soft. Its cellular construction allows air to circulate within the material, reducing dampness and condensation under the carpet. Choose one that is not only strong and durable but also provides high resilience and firm support. While rubber waffles can come in various thicknesses and weights, as a guide, the heavier the better.

Urethane and bonded urethane: Also known as foam underlay, this type of material is recycled from waste products of old furniture and is popular with homeowners because of its environmental factor. Its quality is determined by the foam density which is expressed in pounds. A foam density between 5 to 8 pounds will give you a quality, long lasting underlay. Choose higher density foam for areas with high amounts of foot traffic.

How to choose underlay

Location of use: Where you intend to lay your carpet and the amount of traffic it will experience must be considered when choosing the underlay. You'll need sturdy and firm material for high traffic areas or a softer feel for the feet in the bedroom or living room.

Right thickness: Most people make the mistake of choosing underlays that are too thick only to find that very thick ones can stretch the carpet and cause it to wear quickly. The underlay should be thick enough to act as a shock absorber - as a guide, the heel of your shoe should not be able to feel the floor under the carpet.

Test several: Getting the right feel means trying out several choices under your carpet before buying the underlay. Your supplier should be able to assist you in finding the right one for your needs.

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Why Sound Insulation Is So Important

Homes and buildings are typically constructed to not only be sturdy and safe but also to keep out noises that may come in from the outside and noises that travel within the home or building as well. Sometimes though these buildings are not properly built for sound control. This can be due to a number of factors including the rate at which the building was constructed, the materials used or the pure cutting of corners by the builders, etc. Whatever the reason, many homes or buildings wind up with little or no protection from noise. Sound control is very important in a home and therefore it is not just for peace of mind but also for the quality of noise reduction.

The measurement for sound is tracked by decibels. If a noise is raised by ten decibels it means that it has risen to a level which is 10 times stronger than normal. To the average person this means it has simply doubled in loudness.

In fact, many causes for loss of hearing are due to prolonged exposure to sounds that are higher than eighty five decibels. When loud music is listened to in an area which has no sound control or hard surfaces such as a room with all hard wood floors, the sound will appear to be much louder because the vibrations will be more intense. When carpets and other spongy materials are added to the room, the sound will seem less intense within the room because it will absorb the sound within the material. It will not though, help to keep the sound from going through to other areas so it does nothing in the form of sound control within other areas of the home. In order to protect other areas and implement a sound control system, there needs to be a number of factors including thick materials to be used within the wall structures.

To keep sound from coming into the home from outside, additional sound control measures need to be taken. Decoupling is one way that this can be done. This is where the sound is broken up before it has a chance to reach inside the home. This is done by creating a double frame in the wall or adding fibreglass in the middle. Additionally if the house is properly sealed this will also help to eliminate the sound volume. Using the decoupling method though is fairly efficient. If this is not feasible, then using a more absorbent material inside the wall is also effective. Sometimes it is a good idea to further add to the drywall to increase the sound control.

It is vital to the occupants' quality of life and peace of mind to have a sound control system in place in the home or office. This is the only way to stop the sound from traveling within the home as well as coming in from outside the home. A good system in place ensures that hearing will be protected and furthermore the home will be more private and relaxed providing a better living experience.

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