if you're planning to spend $ on the carpet (surface layer), then you should plan to spend $$ on the under layer. a good under layer will let your carpet last a lot longer. when you walk on carpet with good under layer, you'll feel a lot more comfortable too. 6 @- w, D& s9 B / x t( e1 @6 J* z% I |& E' t4 [of course, this all depend on how long you plan to live in this house too. : `( {% U; V8 @1 j8 C- _2 T