Installing Laminate Wood Flooring Over Carpet

How to install laminate flooring.

Installing laminate wood flooring over carpet.

If you are using more than one sheet of plywood tape the sheets together at the seam. We have done this twice now because we moved and it has never shifted or caused any problem. Ensure a snug connection by using a tapping block to gently tap the pieces together. This gap allows the laminate floor to expand and contract while hidden beneath the end cap.

Since carpet is usually plush and soft your laminate flooring would not have the support it needs to keep the locking system sturdy. Remove any carpet padding from the area where the end cap will be installed. A carpet adds a soft surface underneath the laminate. Install baseboards and molding remove the spacers around the border and install baseboards and quarter round molding covering the plastic moisture barrier on the wall and the gap between the wall and the flooring.

As much as you want to cut down costs on a new floor this is not the way to do it. Installing laminate flooring over carpet is not recommended in most installation situations. It stays in place under the weight of the laminate especially when you add furniture on top of that. What happens with carpet is it tend to push down as people walk on it.

You absolutely cannot use carpet underlayment underneath laminate flooring. The same thing happens even when the carpet is underneath the laminate. Plywood is highly recommended when installing over high pile carpet. Allow a 1 4 inch expansion joint between the track central portion of the end cap and the laminate floor.

One of the very first issues that you need to realize when considering the installation of laminate flooring over an existing carpet is the warping of the material. Install your laminate flooring one row at a time. We just lay it right on top of the carpet and then put the hardwood on top of that. Install the first row of planks with the tongue side facing the wall.

To learn more about how to install plywood check out our helpful video. Installing laminate flooring over carpet underlayment will do more harm than good in the long run. Use the tongue and groove edges to connect one plank to another. I hope that helps.