Can You Put Down Laminate Flooring After Taking Out Carpet?

Carpet Removal

• You will find that the carpet you need to remove may be attached to the sub-floor with tackless strips, tack strips and, the worse case scenario, adhesive. Cut the carpet into manageable strips with a utility knife. Pull the carpet strips up using a pry bar. Roll the carpet strips into bundles and remove them from the room for disposal.

Floor Cleaning

• Several tools are needed to remove the debris from the floor after removal of a carpet. Use a small pry bar and a hammer to remove the tack strip from the wood or concrete floor. If the contractor or previous owner applied a carpet or carpet padding using adhesive you must scrape it up with a wide blade putty knife. Apply mineral spirits to carpet padding that is securely glued down. Any staples or carpet tacks in the sub-floor are best removed with needle nose pliers. You may need to use a sander to completely remove residue from the floor to prevent damage to the new laminate.

Laminate Flooring Preparation

• Set cartons of laminate flooring pieces in the adjoining room to allow the material to acclimate to the building interior. Trim or remove the baseboard, door frames and trim to allow for the extra height that the laminate will add to the floor of the room. Measure the room to determine the square footage and the amount of laminate needed for the project.

Laminate Installation

• Roll out and install the protective underlayment on the sub-floor unless the laminate has padding adhered to it by the manufacturer. When installing new flooring over concrete you must lay down a plastic vapor barrier according to product instructions. Remove and mix pieces of laminate from different cartons to insure a more natural look to the overall floor. If possible, begin placing planks of laminate on the floor, in line with the sunlight, as it shines into the room. Completely cover the old sub-floor where the carpet has been removed.