One common thing about owning a home is the need to make changes from time to time; most times, the changes are on the flooring.
For the most part, people change their flooring for the comfort it offers, as well as the warmth it gives.
While this is an available option, an important question is if it is possible to put carpet over laminate flooring.
It is possible to carpet over laminate flooring, but it is not advisable to do so because of some peculiar reasons like the damage it can cause to the flooring. However, the choice of carpeting over laminate flooring is a personal decision you can make based on what you want and how you want it done.
Can You Carpet Over Laminate Flooring?
Yes, you can put carpet over laminate flooring, but it’s not advisable to do so because putting carpet over laminate flooring may damage it.
On the other hand, it is possible to carpet over laminate flooring, so the question of the possibility of you carpeting it is affirmative.
Still, if you intend to take off the carpet someday, you should not carpet over laminate flooring if it is not permanent.
Although the option of putting carpet over laminate flooring, your home decorator will guide you on the pros and cons of putting carpet over laminate flooring because, in the end, it all depends on what you want.
When it comes to household decorations, your choices will always be valid, but your decorators will guide you on the best decisions to make so you do not feel lost.
For example, choosing carpet over laminate flooring is a personal decision you will make based on whether you want to install it permanently.
Because of the glue used to hold the carpet to the flooring, the carpet may not come off totally when you try to take it off and, in the process, ruin the entire flooring.
Thus, it is not advisable to carpet over laminate flooring, except if the installation is permanent.
It is always better to install new flooring on a fresh slate, but due to time constraints and your choice, you may want to install your carpet directly over your laminate flooring, which is still valid.
But I’m doing so; you should consider the pros and cons of directly installing carpet over laminate flooring to help you understand what to expect and how to go about it.
Pros and Cons of Putting Carpet Over Laminate Flooring
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| It is time and cost-efficient. Removing the existing laminate flooring will cost more than purchasing new paddlings and subfloors if you’re working on a budget. | The smooth surface of the laminate may cause the carpet to shift and sometimes fold, which will risk tearing the carpet. |
| It increases your options. You may later decide to remove the carpet and reuse your old flooring without purchasing new ones. | When installing a carpet over an existing laminate, there are layers of paddings underneath it which may give it some extra thickness. |
| It is harder to maintain a carpeted floor than a laminate floor. Regular mopping may do the trick for the laminate, while carpet efficiently traps dirt and dust and can become smelly if you spill any liquid on it. |
Do You Need Underlay For Carpet On Laminate Flooring?
To protect your laminate flooring against damages, you’ll need to use an underlay when installing the carpet over it.
While it is not advisable to put carpet over laminate flooring, it is an available option open to you.
Depending on your choice, you can decide to carpet your laminate flooring. But this is only possible if you use underlay to pad the carpet and the laminate flooring.
Using underlay when installing your carpet offers a lot of benefits which range from protecting the flooring and carpet, noise reduction, and a host of others, as explained below;
#1. Protection
Underlay serves as a smooth barrier between the carpet and the flooring. It prevents the carpet glue from directly reaching the flooring such that whenever you decide to pull off the carpet, your laminate can still be of use to you.
#2. Noise Reduction
An Underlay is a thin sheet of padded plastic foam that is soft and noise absorbent.
It gives extra padding to the already layered flooring, reducing the noise your feet make or moving heavy furniture.
#3. Protection Against Moisture
Since the underlay has plastic, it is a vapor barrier to the flooring and the carpet. While your flooring may not damage quickly because of moisture, the carpet will easily get damaged from the cold on your floor.
The underlay will prevent this moisture from getting to your carpet, reduce the effects on the flooring, and make the floor warmer.
#4. Evens Out the Deviations
In some poorly installed floorings, the surfaces are bumpy and unattractive, which means that your carpet will also be bumpy if you directly put it over the laminate flooring.
So what an underlay does is, fill out the Deviations and create a smooth and even surface.
#5. Prevents Wear And Tear in Your Flooring
A carpet can be loose, which means it’ll move over the laminate flooring, which will cause some friction in both layers.
This friction can cause them to wear and tear, but installing an underlay smoothens the bumps and reduces the friction that will cause them to wear and tear.
Laminate flooring is one of the popular types of flooring you will see in modern homes because of its durability, texture, and ease of cleaning. It does not suck up stains and, if properly installed, can last for years.
But like other home decorations, you may want to see something different in your house and decide to put carpet over the flooring without taking it off.
It is a regular practice that has been going on for a while. But it cannot just be done directly because of several reasons that may work against your plan if you ignore it.
Generally, the solution to installing carpet over laminate flooring without causing any damage to the floor is first putting an underlay between the flooring and the carpet.
It will reduce the effect of the carpet glue on the flooring. In addition, the underlay will serve as a protective sheet for the flooring while enhancing the carpet’s look.
Not just for carpets alone, but you can use underlayment or padding when installing your laminate flooring.
What Flooring Can You Put Over Laminate?
Not just carpets alone can be out over laminate flooring; there are a host of other alternatives that can also give a twist to the look of your floors if installed correctly.
Can You Carpet Over Laminate Flooring
- Vinyl plank flooring
- Rubber rolls
- Vinyl rolls
- Foam rolls
- Foam interlocking mats
- Ceramic tiles
- Cork rolls
- Rubber interlocking tiles
When installing any of the suggestions above, the existing laminate flooring is the subfloor for each installation.
Fortunately, all the suggestions are flat and thin enough that little change during and after installing them.
Therefore, the thickness of the floor will only increase by a few inches, and you do not need to adjust any angles to fix them.
#1. Can You Put Carpet Over Vinyl Plank Flooring?
Yes, you can put carpet directly over your vinyl flooring; because of its rigid surface, you can use the adhesive directly on it without bothering about it pulling off.
However, ensure to replace all broken flooring pieces before putting your carpet on it to avoid any damage to the carpet.
Some situations require you to decide if you want to use an existing vinyl plank flooring or lay a carpet over it.
It could be moving into a newly purchased property or changing the look of your home. For convenience, you may wonder if laying carpet directly over the vinyl flooring is possible.
It is possible to lay carpet over any flooring, not just vinyl flooring, but before laying down the carpet, there are things to do to give you a better outcome.
#2. Cleaning the Floor
First, you must clean the floor properly to prevent the dust from reducing the effectiveness of the adhesive you’ll be applying to it.
Dust particles in the adhesive will break the intermolecular bond formation in the adhesive and prevent it from firmly gluing the carpet to the floor.
Not just water and soap are mopping, but you’re to thoroughly clean the flooring to remove any grease, debris, and stains that may affect the adhesive.
Use any strong floor cleaners of your choice to scrub the stains from the floor and let it air dry for as long as possible.
#3. Floor Preparation
All you’re to do after the floor is appropriately dry is to prepare it for the installation. Inspect for tiny ridges and holes in the floors, look for broken pieces of the planks, and make appropriate replacements.
#4. Installation
Installation is the final stage. First, you should have cut your carpet into appropriate sizes to fit in the space you want to cover, and you should have spread your glue over the flooring.
Then, you’ve to lay and nail down the carpet on the glue carefully and gradually straighten it out to remove every ridge.
After successfully installing your carpet, your satisfaction will be next to none if you did it correctly without any folds or rumpling in the carpet; for many people, the dissatisfaction of installing carpet over vinyl flooring comes after the work.
However, with the help of your interior decorator and ensuring that you follow up with the guidelines of installing a carpet over vinyl flooring, you will be happy you made the decision.
Conclusion
Many people prioritize their Choices over the best option, and even though installing carpet over laminate flooring isn’t a bad idea, your designer has other options to consider.
Fortunately, there’s room for your choices, so you can successfully lay carpet over laminate flooring without the risk of damaging both the carpet and the laminate flooring.
