Installing Carpet Over Hardwood

Check for flush by placing a straight edge against the tongue of the flooring.

Installing carpet over hardwood.

Secure the first row of planks traveling lengthwise along the wall. 3 4 inch cdx plywood is preferred and 3 4 inch osb is acceptable. 3 4 thick or thinner solid or engineered hardwood flooring must be installed across the old wood floor boards at a 90 degree angle. In some cases you can also install carpet tiles over existing wood tile or vinyl flooring so long as the existing flooring is no more than an inch thick.

Installing hardwood floors can cost between 9 and 12 per square foot compared with about 3 to 5 per square foot for carpet so some homeowners opt to install hardwood floors only in some. We have done this twice now because we moved and it has never shifted or caused any problem. However we highly recommend removing existing flooring. Installing carpeting over a hardwood floor is not a difficult task but it does require some physical labor.

Beginning at the longest wall put inch thick spacers between the wall and the first row of flooring. Use seaming tape to join the seams. Make sure you have a sturdy subfloor. To learn more about how to install plywood check out our helpful video.

By installing a narrow tackless strip that grips the outer perimeter of the carpet. Newly fastened floors over existing wood floors should be installed opposite example photo right or at a 45 degree angle to the original direction. Since carpet tiles do not have padding underneath you will be able to feel underlying grout lines and texture from prior flooring. Most 3 4 inch solid hardwood flooring can be installed using nails or staples over an approved subfloor.

Turn the grooved edge of the plank toward the spacers. Most engineered flooring can be installed using staples full spread adhesive or a floating method over an approved subfloor. When placing plywood sheets over plush carpet lay them in the opposite direction the floor will go. If you are using more than one sheet of plywood tape the sheets together at the seam.

Plywood is highly recommended when installing over high pile carpet. Use a seaming iron to melt the adhesive by slowly pulling the iron down the tape. Adjust the flooring until it lines up. New hardwood flooring over old hardwood flooring.

We just lay it right on top of the carpet and then put the hardwood on top of that. If you re dead set on keeping the original direction a minimum 3 8 plywood sub floor should be installed over the older floor.