How to Install a Wood Floor on top of Carpet

Bored with the dark, bland, low-pile carpet in my living room, I decided to install a "wood" (laminate) floor to cover part of my living space. The challenge, though, was that this is a rental, so I couldn't damage/remove the existing carpet. This video shows how I did it, from the initial strategy to how to cut and assemble the pieces and finish the boundary between the laminate area and the carpeted area. Note that if you're planning on doing this in your own place, you should check with your landlord first to make sure it's okay.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• wood
• floor
• laminate
• carpet
• makita
• circular
• saw
• irwin
• quick
• grip
• clamp
• pergo
• trafficmaster

[masonkim7]

this guy is def gay. nothing wrong. just saying.

[sumitsumit]

@masonkim7 I'm not, actually, but you're entitled to your (mistaken) opinion :)

[Evan1boy]

You sir are a genius. My wife and I can stop searching so hard for apartments with hardwood floors! Thank you sir!

[sumitsumit]

@Evan1boy thanks :) Note that you should check with your landlord before doing this - since it's basically a "rug" they shouldn't have any objections, especially if you make it clear that you're not doing going do anything permanent, drill any holes in the floor, rip up the existing carpet, etc. Also note this will only work on low-pile carpet - this would be a disaster on shag!

[Evan1boy]

@sumitsumit Oh for sure. My wife and I are pretty charming when it comes to getting our landlords to let us make changes. I was a construction worker for a spell. Love this idea. Now we just have to find places without shag carpeting :)

[sumitsumit]

@Evan1boy Excellent! Best of luck to you! Given your experience, I'm sure you'll do a better job than I did. If you come up with any great tips to improve the process, please post them back here!

[Toopax]

Cool. Redoing a floor with my wife so that should help.

[Chyeld]

Thanks for sharing this, it's something I was thinking about trying for a long time, I think I have my next project on my hands.

[Onisanol]

Good luck with this install--carpet and padding is NOT a suitable substrate for laminate flooring! You do want the floor to float, but not buckle and shift. Good thing it's a rental because no manufacturer would warrant this installation. After 22 years in the flooring and home furnishings industry, believe me, I know.

[Ibiza10Rockstar]

idiot!



[chevybox9]

Great Video... This would be a great solution for my family as well. Im curious to know how the floor has held up over time. 

[4EVERMYSERENITY]

I have always wondered if this could work, and I am late yes, but at least I found your video :) i have a apartment and have been living here for 8 years, brown or beige carpet ewwwww...... I am now going to do this. and thanks to you my friend.

[rcnacura]

If your near an Ikea, check out their As-Is section, they ALWAYS seem to have flooring for super cheap.

[pyroguy3]

I think this is the first Indian hillbilly I've seen.

[Jasonv8z]

Some manufacturers sell laminate that can go over carpet starting around $2/sq ft. In SF which is full of crappy apartments, this would actually pay off within a few months and save a lot of money on a year lease.