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Advice for installing carpet over floating laminate floor

farhadahmed2007

7 years ago

I've had the misfortune of buying a townhouse that doesn't comply with HOA rules. Long story short, I need to put carpet over my laminate flooring. At some point down the line I'll remove the laminate but right now it's too expensive a task. My question is, what is a cheap way to install carpet over laminate while still making it look good? For example, our kitchen is still going to have laminate; is there a way to carpet the rest of the area without making it look awkward where the laminate ends and the carpet starts?

Featured Answer

User

7 years ago

Ripping out laminate is dead easy. DIY it.

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Comments (6)

PRO
Cancork Floor Inc.
7 years ago
My advice: Don't do it.

You CANNOT install a PERMANENT floor covering which is tacked or glued into place (such as carpet) over a non-permanent FLOATING FLOOR (such as laminate).

Just don't do it. Your home insurance (the part that covers personal injury in your home) will be voided for doing something like this.

Remove the laminate (if you pay someone = $1/sf to remove and dispose). And then lay the carpet. Sorry but this is a no-brainer. No carpet over laminate. If you do, someone is going to brain themselves because of the unstable footing.
prairiemom61
7 years ago
I second this. Our daughter bought a house that had carpet installed over a floating floor and it felt bouncy. Weird bouncy. They got it all torn out and had new carpet installed. Feels nice and solid now.
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gregmills_gw
7 years ago
while yes you shouldnt install a permanent floor cover over a floating floor. if you need to do this simply to comply with a HOA, just buy the carpet so it fits wall to wall but dont tack it down, it would simply be a wall to wall rug in a sort. its not ideal, but it sounds like your not in an ideal situation and with money being an issue, this is the best of both worlds, you get the carpet to comply with your HOA, and you can easily remove the laminate down the road with the finances allow for it.
rfhendrix
last year
last modified: last year
The only way to do it correctly is to glue the carpet to the floating floor. Later when you take it up both floors will come up together. It is an unconventional way to do it but it will work if done correctly. The carpet and floor will expand and contract together so there will be no buckling of the floor which is a possibility if you try to nail tack strips through the floating floor. Another way to do it is to saw all around the floor about 2 inches from the walls. Then nail the tack strips to the bare floor. In that case you can also install padding as usual (gluing it to the existing floor.) But, it would probably be cheaper to just take up the floor. The only part that may be troublesome is removing the baseboards. I have installed all types of floors for over 40 years.
bry911
last year
This is a five year old thread and I have no comment or advice on carpet over floating floor...

However, someone noted, "Your home insurance (the part that covers personal injury in your home) will be voided for doing something like this." I am not sure what type of personal injury insurance is being talked about, neither all peril or named peril policies normally cover slip and fall accidents in a home and both would cover a personal injury lawsuit filed against the homeowner in this situation. There may well be legitimate reasons for not doing this but insurance coverage isn't one of them.

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