If you are looking for laminate flooring over carpet problems, then you have stumbled on the right page.
Laminate flooring is a beautiful and cost-effective flooring option that gives a new look to your house. However, installing it over your carpet can be the biggest mistake of your life.
Some carpet installers might advise you to install it over the carpet, while some will tell you to remove the carpet first. So, what to do? What is the safest option for the long run?
Keep on reading to learn about the pros and cons of installing laminate flooring and whether you should install it over the carpet or not.
Can I Laminate Flooring Over The Carpet?
The straight answer to this question is NO! Laminating the floor over the carpet will not only damage the laminate flooring but will also risk the lives of your loved ones.
It’s not every day that you install laminated flooring in your house, so check carefully whether your underlayment is suitable for laminate flooring or not.
To ensure the long-term use of the laminated floor, follow the proper instructions to install the flooring and also pre-treat the surface if required.
What Are The Pros And Cons Of Lamination Floors?
Laminate flooring is a cost-effective flooring option that is also trading in the industry. So, if you are also looking to install this flooring, then you must weigh down what it will bring to the table.
Here are the advantages and disadvantages of laminated flooring:
Pros Of Laminated Flooring
1. Durable
Laminate floorings are very durable as compared to the hardwood. It is also pet-friendly and a great option for high-traffic areas.
In addition to this, it can also withstand exposure to sunlight for a long period of time and not fade.
2. Easier To Clean
If you have a carpet, then you can imagine the hassle of cleaning it every day, and it is a cherry on top if you stain the carpet with something hard to remove, like a BBQ sauce or a red wine.
However, by installing laminated flooring, you can avoid all this hassle of cleaning. With laminated flooring, you don’t need any extra or appropriate material to clean.
Just a vacuum or broom will do the job of keeping the dust away from the floor.
3. Cheaper Than Wood
Laminated flooring is a better option than hardwood, especially if you are tight on budget. It will give the same feel and vibe to your house as wood flooring.
This is a perfect option for budget-conscious homeowners.
Cons Of Laminated Flooring
1. Moisture Damage
Laminate is made from a composite material called high-density fiberboard, which is more vulnerable to water damage than natural wood. Once this HDF is exposed to water, it will expand and break down.
However, manufacturers have also developed water-resistant laminate options, which can be great moisture areas in your house.
2. Can’t Be Refinished
Laminate flooring can’t be refinished like natural wood flooring. This is because it is made from a fiberboard core and a thin wood layer on the top. If this thin layer gets worn down, then you will be required to replace the whole laminated flooring.
Laminate Flooring Over Carpet Problems
Installing laminated flooring over the carpet is a much simpler option than doing the extra work to rip off the carpet and then stressing about where to dump the carpet.
If you are thinking this, then trust us; you will find yourself in the ditch of expenses real soon. You can install the flooring over the carpet, but it is never considered a good idea to install laminate flooring over the carpet.
Here are some solid reasons that will make you think twice before installing the laminated floor over the carpet:
1. Accumulated Dust And Dust Mites
We have gone through this many times that your carpet has the ability to absorb everything and anything, and the most common thing it absorbs is dust.
Even though you clean the carpet, these elements are stubborn and are deeply ingrained in your carpet. When the new floor gets installed over the carpet, these allergens will trapped underneath it, and you won’t be able to clean them.
2. Moisture- Mold And Mildew
Mold and mildew an another important concern. For instance, you cleaned your carpet, but, for some reason, it’s still wet in some areas, and you lay the new flooring over it. Then, after some time, the floor will become the breeding ground for mold and mildew.
This mold will then grow underneath your laminated floor, which will contribute to reducing the lifespan of your flooring and also develop respiratory allergies and diseases in your loved ones.
3. Warping Laminate
What happens with the carpet is that when you walk, the carpet also moves with your movement. The same thing happens even when you install the laminate over the carpet.
The carpet will shrink over time, making the laminated flooring uneven. If your flooring is floating over the carpet that has started to shrink, then your flooring will also begin to shrink, causing it to snap or warp at its joints.
How To Choose Laminate Flooring Underlayment?
If you do not wish to install the laminate flooring over the carpet, then it’s crucial to choose the right type of laminate floor underlayment, but how do you do that?
In case the laminated flooring comes with pre-attached underlayment, and your subfloor is wood, then you don’t need any extra underlayment.
However, if the subfloor is made of concrete, then the Visqueen Vapor Barrier will give you the best results. It will provide extra insulation and prevent water vapor from reaching your new flooring.
On the contrary, if the laminated flooring doesn’t have any pre-attached underlayment and your subfloor is wood, then a budget buy will be of 3mm standard. But for best results, you can consider vapor 3-in-1 silver, floor muffler ultra seal, or Roberts silent 3-in-1.
The same goes with the concrete subfloor; the budget buy, in this case, will be a vapor barrier 2-in-1.
Tips To Prepare Surface For Laminate Flooring
If you are thinking of installing the laminated flooring without a carpet underneath, then the first thing to do is to rip away the carpet.
Then, clean the surface thoroughly; if any piece of carpet is still glued to the surface, such as on the sides against the walls, then make sure you remove it.
Also, any residue of glue on the surface should also be removed. Thoroughly vacuum the floor to remove dust and debris, too.
The next step is to consider the types of underlayment you want to use underneath the laminate flooring. Now that you have done all the pre-preparation, it’s time to install the laminate flooring.
Read all the instructions given in the product and make sure you implement them all. Most often, laminate flooring may come with adhesive attached to it.
However, there are a lot of products that do not have glue attached to them, and you have to use your own adhesive.
How To Install Lamination Flooring?
Conclusion
While laminate flooring can add a new look to your house, it’s necessary to take proper precautions and follow the proper instructions during the installation process.
There’s debate in the carpet industry about whether to install laminate flooring over the carpet or not. However, installing it over the carpet will only give you the short-term satisfaction of not ripping off your beautiful carpet, but in the long run, it will make a hole in your pocket.
Overall, it’s a myth that carpet can replace the underlayment to reduce the impact of sound. It is far better to install a high-quality underlayment rather than using the carpet.
And regardless of high-pile carpet or low-pile carpet, it is not recommended to install laminated flooring over the carpet.
We hope this article has answered all your queries on laminate flooring over carpet problems and provided you with the safest way of installing laminate flooring in your house.
FAQs
Can I leave carpet padding underneath the laminate flooring?
Generally, a laminate underlayment is between 1 mm and 3 mm thick, while the carpet pads are 8mm to 10mm thick. This thick padding will not offer proper support to the laminate flooring, and for this reason, you must install a high-quality underlayment for laminate flooring.
Is it okay to put flooring over the carpet?
As we discussed earlier, carpets tend to move with your movement, and even with the laminated flooring above, the carpet will move with your foot movement. This will make the floor uneven. So, it is not recommended to put flooring over the carpet.
Where should you not put laminate flooring?
Laminate flooring should not be installed in high-moisture areas such as basements, laundry rooms, and bathrooms unless proper measures have been taken.
Daleyza knows a lot about carpets! She has worked with carpets for over 7 years and can help with things like putting them in, keeping them clean, and replacing them. She really likes carpets and spends most of her time learning about new ways to work with them. When she’s not learning about carpets, she enjoys reading books. She’s really good at helping people choose the right carpet for their homes and making sure they’re happy with it. If you want to know more about carpets, Daleyza is the person to talk to!