Carpet Over Laminate Flooring
Navigating the fickle world of interiors, British homeowners are looking at all sorts of solutions to keep up-to-date without spending a fortune. One question that sometimes comes up, particularly in terms of renovations or rental properties, is: Can you put carpet over laminate flooring?
Whether you want to support your feet better while walking on the floor, change up the appearance of your living space or just preserve the existing surface, carpet laid over laminate flooring offers a reasonable and easy solution. Before you take the leap, though, you should consider the pros and cons, what it will do to your existing floor — especially if it’s the fancy, high-end type like parquet engineered wood flooring — and whether there might be a better long-term solution out there.
In this guide, we will take you through the practicality, best advice, and expert’s knowledge to help you decide what flooring to choose. We’ll also explore some options like wood floor fitting London and see how well-donethesecould work for your project.
Why Consider Carpet Over Laminate Flooring?
Comfort and Warmth
Laminate floors feel cold compared with carpet, especially in winter. Carpet brings instant warmth and softness, softening rooms such as the bedroom and the lounge.
Cost-Effective Makeover
Instead of tearing out the laminate, putting carpet over the top might feel like a faster, cheaper way to give your home a different look.
Protecting the Subfloor
In rental or temporary space, you might not want to mess with the laminate floor for now. In high-traffic areas, carpet can serve as a protective barrier.Carpet Over Laminate Flooring
Is It Advisable to Lay Carpet Over Laminate Flooring?
In theory, the idea is simple, although it may not be easy: You may face some challenges when you install carpet over laminate flooring, particularly in terms of durability, safety and aesthetics.
The Main Concerns:
- Stability: Laminate is a “floating floor,” which means it is not glued down. Carpet, particularly if not well-anchored, can also cause objects to shift.
- Moisture problems: Trapping moisture under the carpet and between the carpet and laminate can result in mold, damage to the laminate or rotting of the original flooring.
- Voiding Warranty: Laying a new layer over your laminate can void the manufacturer’s warranty — this is particularly the case for higher-quality products such as parquet engineered wood flooring.
When Is Carpet Over Laminate Flooring Acceptable?
While there are some instances where carpet over laminate might be appropriate, here are a few:
Temporary installations in leased property.
Low-use zones such as guest rooms or storage rooms.
In cases of low-pile carpet tiles with very thin glue.
In most cases, though, professional advise trying not to skip more than one layer of flooring due to the fact that your floor is likely to be uneven if it is a few on top of your original floor and the floor on top of that.
How to Properly Install Carpet Over Laminate Flooring
If you still decide to proceed, here are the key steps to follow for a safe and effective installation:
Scrub and Check the Laminate
Wipe Down All Dirt And Dust. Make sure the laminate is dry and pressed smooth. This is especially true if you’re protecting high quality floors such as parquet engineered wood floors (which you may want to use again at a later date).
Choose the Right Carpet Type
Choose a low-pile carpet to minimize shifting and stay strong in between games. Carpet tiles are usually the option for this, rather than a whole wall-to-wall carpet.
Use a Non-Slip Underlay
Have a high-friction underlay purpose built for hard floors. “Do not use foam underlay material that will give you a bounce effect and instability over laminate.
Secure the Carpet Carefully
Rather than glue or tack strips, which can wreak havoc on the laminate, think double-sided carpet tape around the edge. If long life is important, a professional wood floor fitting London installer can offer advice on the safest method.Carpet Over Laminate Flooring
Alternatives to Carpet Over Laminate Flooring
If your ultimate goal is comfort, insulation, or style transformation, there might be better options than carpet.
Upgrade to Engineered Hardwoods
Parquet engineered wood flooring is a superb and durable substitute. It’s warmer than typical laminate and gives a luxury feel without sacrificing durability.
This is also a kind of flooring that helps increase the value of your home, so a better way to use it as an investment option.
Add Rugs or Mats
Rather than wall-to-wall carpeting, sizable rugs can soften the space without interfering with the laminate beneath. They’re removable, easy to wash, and replaceable.
Replace Laminate with Carpet or New Wood Flooring
It might be best to replace it entirely if your laminate floor is outdated or damaged. Whatever you chose a professional wood floor fitting London service can help you to decide whether to go from wood to carpet or to upgrade to something more refined like parquet engineered wood flooring.
Carpet Over Laminate Flooring vs. Parquet Engineered Wood Flooring
Let’s compare the two flooring solutions to understand which is better for your needs.
| Feature | Carpet Over Laminate | Parquet Engineered Wood Flooring |
| Comfort | High | Moderate with underlay |
| Aesthetic Appeal | Moderate | High – stylish and timeless |
| Durability | Low to Moderate | High |
| Maintenance | Moderate | Low |
| Value Addition to Property | Low | High |
| Installation Complexity | Low (temporary) | Medium (requires pro fitting) |
| Suitability for Wet Areas | Poor | Moderate to Good (depends on finish) |
If you’re after long-term value, aesthetic appeal, and stability, parquet engineered wood flooring is clearly the winner.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
If you’re determined to put down carpet over your laminate flooring, however, you’ll want to avoid the following mistakes:
- Passing on the Underlay: This will lead to having both slipping and uneven floor surfaces.
- Failing to Investigate for Moisture: Check for moisture beneath the laminate—particularly in older homes.
- Failure to Secure: A carpet that is not securely attached is dangerous and will not wear well.
- Ignoring Floor Value: When you cover such beautiful floors with attractive carpet like that on parquet engineered wood flooring, it may lose some or all of its appeal or value.Carpet Over Laminate Flooring
Wooden Floor Fitting in London: Better Than You Thought?
The concept of ripping up the ancient laminate and replacing with shiny new flooring in homeowners in London is gaining popularity. As more and more people seek sustainable, high performance flooring materials, products such as parquet engineered wood flooring become increasingly sought after.
When you decide to hire professional wood floor fitting London service, you can.The question is why should you hire professional wood floor fitting London services:- 1 time-saving – Doing the wood floor installation on your own, you are sure to spend hours to hardly achieve a decent job.Honestly, you will not achieve the finish, a professional will do.
Your subfloor is everything.
Beautiful finishes that fit your life and budget.
Easy to install permanently, yet installs easily anywhere you are.
Maintenance and aftercare advise.
So if you’re considering giving your flooring a new look and feel, it might be worth bypassing the carpet workaround and splurging on a heartier upgrade.Carpet Over Laminate Flooring
Consideration Against Environmental and Health Issues
Carpet over laminate flooring vs laminate over carpet Following are some concerns or issues that you may face when installing carpet over laminate flooring:
Air Quality: Many older carpets can contain dust mites, allergens, and pollutants, especially if they are installed over hard, solid flooring that does not “breathe”.
Moisture Trapped:Again, as described above, carpet can hold water and encourage mould –an especially dangerous problem in basements or other high-humidity homes.
The better option would be to go for natural finishes such as engineered parquet wood flooring which is a healthier and breathable option.Carpet Over Laminate Flooring
Maintenance and Longevity
Carpeted flooring will need regular vacuuming and periodic deep cleaning. Engineered wood floors, on the other hand, are relatively low-maintenance and only require light sweeping and occasional mopping.
- If you decide to opt for a wooden floor fitting London and decide to have parquet engineered wood flooring installed, we’ll bring you:
- Surface durability
- Resistance to spills and stains (if sealed correctly)
- Sanding and refinishing potential (Veneer thickness dependent)
Conclusion: Choose Wisely For Your Home
While it is theoretically feasible to lay carpet on top of laminate, it’s not the best option—especially if it’s a longer-term or higher-traffic situation. Problems such as low floor stability, trapped damp and damage to the substrates (parquet engineered flooring for example) makes it less so a favourable option in many UK homes.
Or you could hire a professional to replace the entire laminate with a more robust and stylish floor. A reliable wood floor fitting London pro can tell you a lot about contemporary options which not only deliver great looks but that can also serve you for years to come.
Willing to Update Your Floors?
Contact our specialists team to talk about the best flooring for you and your home, whether it’s time for new carpet, alivery fresh new floor with engineered wood parquet or a big change with laminate. We’re here to help you create your space with style, comfort, and signature craft.
