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 l: V/ l$ N; s" L% {5 Z6 p" K) k 4 ]2 w# L8 N3 ]* n6 Kof course, this all depend on how long you plan to live in this house too.7 f' q0 m1 x: o