Installing Laminate Flooring Over Carpet Padding
Will carpet or carpet padding work like a laminate flooring underlayment.
Installing laminate flooring over carpet padding. Adding another vapor barrier is an extra level of protection. Carpet removal from house of humble blog why can t i use carpet underlayment. Vapor barriers and laminate flooring underlayment. Tile cutter or table saw to cut vinyl or laminate planks plywood optional for high pile carpet.
Carpet its padding and all its staples must be completely removed down to the subfloor before you install laminate flooring. Installing a vapor barrier over this can cause moisture to become trapped within the material leading to the growth of mold or warping in the material. Most installers and builders recommend not installing laminate flooring over carpet as there are too many variables that can create a mess. Before you begin make sure you have the necessary tools for installing your floor.
You can install laminate flooring over carpet though generally not recommended. When it comes to installing a new flooring material you sometimes have the option of installing the underlayment for your new floor directly on top. Most laminate flooring underlayment is 1mm to 3mm thick. Since carpet is usually plush and soft your laminate flooring would not have the support it needs to keep the locking system sturdy.
In most cases you will not want to use a vapor barrier type underlayment when installing laminates on a standard plywood subfloor because wood is a natural material that needs to breathe. Carpeting commercial or needle bond. Utility knife to cut vinyl planks ruler. You may be able to successfully install your laminate floor over carpeting as long as it is less than one quarter inch thick is set on suspended wood sub floor and is fully adhered.
Installing laminate flooring over carpet underlayment will do more harm than good in the long run. How to install floating floors over carpet. Installing laminate flooring over carpet is not recommended in most installation situations. A breathable foam type underlayment is generally used when installing laminate flooring over plywood or osb subfloors.
Laying underlayment over an existing flooring. Unintended nicks or tears during the installation process can violate the integrity of the attached vapor barrier.