Laminate flooring has the advantage that it can be installed over various kinds of surfaces. And till now it’s seen that laminate flooring is being installed over hard surfaces/subfloor only. And this brings up a topic that can laminate flooring be installed over fluffy, soft, plush carpet?
You possibly will think about this topic too, especially when you want to install laminate flooring over your carpet surface.
So, this article is going to answer and explain the factors regarding this topic for you.
Can Laminate Flooring Be Installed Over Carpet?
Laminate flooring can not be installed over the carpet. Because carpets are thick, soft, plush, and have bounciness. So, the laminate flooring planks will not get enough support to keep the flooring’s locking system strong. Also, the laminate planks will glide due to the bounciness of the carpet.
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It’s never suggested to homeowners to install laminate flooring over their home’s carpet surface. As the surface of carpets is generally very thick, fluffy, plush, and bouncy.
So, if laminate flooring is installed over the carpet surface, the flooring planks will not have the needed backing to maintain the sturdiness of the locking system.
Also, since the carpet is bouncy, therefore, it will make the laminate planks glide. As well as it will strain the locking system of planks causing damage to the floor. Therefore, laminate flooring should never be installed over the carpet.
How To Install Laminate Over Carpet?
Installing laminate over carpets is not recommended. However, if you want to install laminate over low pile carpets then follow these steps to install it.
Remove All Furniture
Start with removing furniture, then vacuum the carpet and clean nicely, and for a more complete look, remove the baseboards as well.
Place Spacers
Keep 1/4 inches extension space from the wall placing spacers between the laminate planks and the wall.
Set The First Row
Starting from the left to right, set the first row in the nook of the room. Aligning the layers interlock the tongue and groove. Make sure the tongue faces against the wall and the groove faces out.
Cut The Last Planks
When you see that there is not enough space in a row of planks, measure the space between the last plank of the town and the wall. And then make marks on the next plank and cut it according to the measurement. But follow the cutting process seriously.
Stagger The Planks
Don’t forget to stagger the laminate flooring planks to get an extra natural wooden floor look.
Make The Planks Tighten
Make sure that all of the planks are tight-fitting. For that tap the laminate planks to lock them tightly together by using a tapping block and rubber mallet.
Place Planks Until It’s Finished
Keep installing laminate flooring over the carpets until you get a finished situation. And while installing, place spacers around the perimeters of the flooring every few feet. After the whole installation is complete, you can remove the spacers.
Also read, How Much Laminate Flooring Can Be Laid In a Day?
What Should I Put Between Carpet And Laminate?
You can put transition strips between carpet and laminate to connect them. Transition strip will manage to cover the layers between carpet and laminate floor planks.
The transition strip does two works. First, safeguards the perimeters of the flooring and second, gives an impressive finish to the flooring when it transforms one to another.
Just make sure to chop off the transition strip that is placed in the entryway in small for the rooms on both perimeters.
Another thing you must make sure of is, the height is equal for either side and press to attach the transition strip to the locking strip. Also, before installing the transition strip do read out the product’s installation direction.
How Do You Finish Laminate Flooring On Carpet?
Generally, it’s not recommended to give a floor cover/finish to laminate flooring on the carpet. Because carpet is soft and plush and can’t provide the support to laminate flooring that it needs to keep the interlocking of planks strong.
However, two tips are given for you if you want a finish between laminate flooring and carpet.
Using Transition Strip
The transition strip obviously will not give a finish to the overall laminate floor over the carpet. But it will give an impressive finish when you have two different kinds of flooring and you want to join them together.
You can choose a hardwood transition strip and place it between the laminate flooring and carpet to connect them and have a seamless finish from one room to Another.
Using Tack Strip
Tack strip is another method that you can apply to give a finish to the creases of laminate flooring and carpet.
The tack strip comes along with nails, and all you need to do is nail the tack strip down to the subfloor to get a finish between the laminate floor and carpet.
Can Laminate Flooring Be Installed Over Glued Down Carpet?
If it’s carpet padding, it’s strongly not advised to install laminate flooring over glued down carpet.
Because the carpets with padding are coarse and lack sturdiness. Instead, it’s plush and soft and gives a bouncy vibe.
In this situation, such a bouncy carpet cannot provide the support laminate flooring needs to keep the plank locking system strong. Moreover, the locking of planks will be weakened too that can hamper the floor.
However, if the glued-down carpet is a thin commercial one and has a height of less than 1/4 inches, you may install laminate flooring.
Can You Install Laminate Flooring Over Carpet Glue?
You cannot install laminate flooring over carpet glue.
Because carpet glue leaves lumpiness on the subfloor and it’s known that laminate flooring needs an even and flat subfloor to be installed on. Even light lumpiness can imbalance the planks and make them move.
If there is a glue lump big or small will create an uneven subfloor for the laminate planks. So, you should remove glue along with the carpet before you start installing laminate flooring.
Why Do I need To Remove Carpet Glue Before Laying Laminate?
You need to remove carpet glue before laying laminate because carpet glue over the subfloor can create glue lumps(big or small) and that can make the subfloor uneven and not flat.
Also, laminate flooring requires a clean and junk-free subfloor before installing. So, carpet glue will not allow it to have a clean subfloor. Therefore, you must remove carpet glue from the subfloor before installing laminate flooring over it.
What Kind Of Flooring You Can Put Over Carpet?
Both laminate flooring and vinyl plank flooring can be put over the carpet. But again, it’s really not recommended because carpets are bulky, have a fluffy surface, and gives a soft and wavy feel.
Therefore, it’s not the appropriate surface for laminate flooring to be put over the carpet as the bounciness of the carpet will make the planks float.
As a result, the planks will not get enough backing to maintain their locking system properly. And it can strain the laminate plank’s locking system causing clamp to the floor.
If you decide to install laminate or vinyl planks, do it onto a tight, low pile, and low height carpet.
Can You Install Vinyl Plank Flooring Over Carpet Padding?
You can install vinyl plank flooring over carpet padding, but you need to combat the fluffiness and bounciness of the carpet padding.
If you directly install vinyl flooring over carpet padding, it will give you gliding vinyl planks. As a result, planks can shift and unlock very easily.
Therefore, before installing vinyl plank flooring you have to make a stable, flat, and even surface for your planks to sit on properly without moving or separating from each other. Also, to withstand the squish of carpet padding.
So install a 1/4 inches a thick layer of plywood to make a subfloor over the carpet padding so that you can install vinyl plank flooring over it instead of the carpet padding.
Do You Need To Put Anything Under Laminate Flooring?
You do need to put an underlayment underneath laminate flooring. Because underlayment enables the laminate flooring to extend and make a bond appropriately.
Also, underlayment works as a moisture barrier so it will help the laminate plank to get ruined because of the climate or moisture and it also avoids warping caused by expansion.
Besides, underlayment underneath laminate flooring will create a flat, even, and sturdy surface that stops laminate plank from floating on the surface.
Some underlayments work as a sound barrier too. Especially, for the concrete subfloor, you must need an underlayment beneath laminate flooring.
What Happens If You Don’t Use Underlayment Under Laminate Flooring?
You are suggested to prepare an underlayment over the surface you are going to install laminate flooring. Especially when it is a concrete subfloor. If you don’t use underlayment, these are the possible situations that can occur.
- Poor stability: Laminate flooring planks will not get a stable, flat, even surface to be installed on. Therefore, it may float and can get separated from each other.
- Lose locking system: The locking system of the laminate planks will weaken and lose sturdiness.
- Lack of moisture protection: There will be no moisture protector to protect the laminate planks from mold and mildew.
Laminate flooring is exactly suitable flooring to be installed over carpet, so you are again advised not to install it. Especially over carpet padding.
Read more, How Uneven Can a Floor Be for Laminate?
In case, you can manage to make a plywood subfloor over the carpet padded or have a thin carpet with a flat and even surface, you may install laminate flooring.