Can We Lay Laminate Flooring Over Carpet? (Updated)

Laminate floors are a common alternative for most floor types. The main reason for this is its ease of installation and relatively cheap cost. Because laminate flooring is easy to install and maintain, most consider it ideal for installation over other floor finishes, disregarding removing the existing finish that may suffer from wear and tear. Installation of a carpet is a standard feature for floor finishes that, like any other finish, is prone to the effects of wear and tear and hence the need for replacement.

Why you need to install a laminate floor?

There is a wide variety of reasons why you may consider laminate flooring over and above other kinds of floors. The most crucial factor is the fact that the base comes in a variety of styles and colors. In this way, you get a chance to choose the ones that best suit your room’s scheme, making it look more welcoming. More to this, the floor is more durable. This owes to the fact that laminate floors are made of solid wood and enhanced with strong finishes. This makes it scratch-free and ideal for a house where residents own pets. However, ensuring that the pet’s nails are regularly trimmed is essential to reduce any chances of scratches.

Reasons why you may consider installing the floor on top of the carpet?

Installation of the carpets is done in varying ways. In some instances, while some seek durability of the carpet and minimize chances of its movement, use glue to fix the carpet on the floor. In such an instance, when the carpet wears out or the need to change the floor type occurs, removing the rug becomes a tedious task. For this reason and considering the chance of installing laminate flooring using the “floating flooring method,” this may seem a more accessible option.

Singapore is a country that experiences regular rainfall throughout the year. For this reason, consideration for an ideal floor has to consider instances of gathering mist and wetness. It is for such reason that having carpet flooring covered by laminate increases the chances of developing high dampness. To prevent such instances, it is essential to ensure that the carpet is completely removed.

The cost of removing the carpet is also a primary consideration that may drive many to install the flooring on top. Many installers tend to find a way around the time and cost of removing the carpet, more so in instances where the carpet was affixed to the floor using glue or other adhesives.

Is it alright to install the floor over the carpet?

While this may seem like a better option than installing the laminate flooring over the carpet, professionals advise that there are better procedures than installing the laminate flooring over the rug. Among the common reasons for this is the fact that the carpet flooring is not guaranteed to be flat. In such a way, the underlying laminate may not also eliminate the bumps on the carpet floor. This may lead to creaking alongside other shortcomings. The other factor is the fact there are changes in humidity, which generally occur when the subflooring is improper and may lead to cases of accumulation of mist.

Owing to the importance of having a flat flooring surface, it is essential to note that even the very carpets, such as the indoor and outdoor ones, can have some thin and thick parts and, in such a way, affect the evenness of the laminate flooring. This is even though some of the designers recommend that the floor be installed on carpets of a height that is less than ¼”.

There are also instances of contraction and expansion that occur due to humidity. In such an instance, there are chances of movements within the floor’s surface, significantly affecting the underlying carpet if it is yet to be removed. In such an instance, this movement will create bumps on the laminate floor that will lead to an uneven floor with time. In case the carpet is glued to the floor, the chance of the movement being distracted may lead to cracks on the wooden flooring, affecting its durability.

Caring for laminate floors

To ensure that your rooms always look perfect, it is essential to ensure that reasonable care is taken in the maintenance of the floors. To make this possible, one big reason is to ensure that no carpets are lying under the floor. In such a way, it will be possible to undertake cleaning the floor, including mopping and wiping the floor. This is because while undertaking such practices, water and other detergents may seep through loose joints or cracks on the floor to the carpets and, in such a way, make it dump. To ensure that this is well taken care of, there is a need to ensure that any defects on the floor are adequately repaired and polished to maintain the floor’s shininess.

Conclusion

While laminate flooring is simple to install, there are better ways to make the process much more accessible than taking shortcuts. For this reason, removing carpets is essential when considering changing your floor to laminate. This is irrespective of the cost and time consumed in the process, as this is an ideal way to ensure the durability of the floor and give ease in setting an even surface. The floor manufacturers also recommend removing the carpet before a laminate floor is installed for better results. The manufacturers always issue recommendations for the floor installations, and failure to do so may result in the manufacturer waiving the warranties given on the purchase of laminate boxes.