Hardwood floors over carpet?

Question

I just recently moved into an apartment that is all carpet. Wanted to know if there is any sort of temporary hardwood (or anything similar) floors, I can install over the carpet, since I am renting and cant rip out the carpets

Answer 1

ACTUALLY- if anyone was to ask me to do this for them as a service I would answer LIKE EVERYONE else did.

But the reality is I've done this before and it worked well. Armstrong sells a lock laminate floor that was desinged to be removable and temporary for tradeshows and portable sports courts like raquetball.

I bought some for a travelling court and when we are in OFF season I install it in my office. Looks great but has a couple of wierd details at the transitions to other rooms. You could stomp your toe!

But really it would work- just not an actual finished method that could be sold to a home owner becuase of the transistions and edges.

Good luck

Answer 2

Hardwood Flooring Over Carpet

Answer 3

Not that I am aware of. I have been in home remodeling for 30 years. Laminate flooring is installed over a thin padding 1/16 of an inch. It is considered a floating floor and does this for expansion and contraction. Carpet would be too much of an unstable surface and would be too spongy. Ask your landlord if you could have the carpets removed and put into storage then reinstalled when you move out. This would only cost you to have a carpet installers labor. Who knows maybe there are hardwood underneath already.

Answer 4

The general consensus is a resounding no. I'm afraid that they are all right. You cannot install any sort of flooring over carpet.

Even if you did, the carpet would end up developing mold, mildew which would aside from making your place stink bad, it also would become a health hazard. Also, since carpet is very flexible, the flooring with end up in some spots cracking, warping, etc..

If you are renting, then you are at the mercy of what is in your rental agreement on what you can and cant do, legally speaking. If your carpet is such an eyesore, you may want to consider a nice area rug. But since its a rental, you wouldnt want to do too much, after all it is temporary, and the expense is not worth doing too much decorating, IMO

Answer 5

You REALLY need to get the old carpet up and put down a stable underlay before installing a hardwood floor. You will be setting yourself up to replace the new *buckled* hardwood floor in a year or less. You wouldn't lay new carpet over old carpet would you?

Answer 6

Nope, I would say to get a cheap area rug and some runners to lay over your traffic area's if your protecting the carpet. Is there hardwood floors under the carpet?, talk to the landlord to remove the carpet, this can be saved and relayed when you leave.

Answer 7

No, you can not put hardwood over carpet. Either pull up carpet of make a deal with your landlord that maybe he will help with some of the cost if you do the labor. The investement would be as much worth his while as yours.

Answer 8

The only thing I've heard of is temporary carpet squares that fit together like a puzzle. So maybe there is a version of this that has a wood appearance. I would contact a hardware store. Usually the bigger stores have more ability to order what you want. Maybe Home Depot or something like that. Sorry if this doesn't help.

Answer 9

Don't even think about it. The carpet underneath will draw moisture in, keep it there and then spawn an ungodly amount of mold and smell like you'd never believe. Besides, it wouldn't lay down correctly and your landlord would raise a ruckus with you.

Answer 10

NOPE -- there is no temporary wood flooring to put over the carpeting -- and since you are renting, you can't just rip out the carpeting from the flooring.