Putting Carpet On A Concrete Floor

Before you install the carpet make sure to check the concrete for any moisture issues that need to be addressed.

Putting carpet on a concrete floor. Plywood carpet pad and carpet as shown. Any moisture that does reach your carpet can cause it to become moldy and start to rot. Many carpets and carpet padding are vapor permeable so if your concrete basement is showing moisture it can continue to evaporate up through the pad and carpet. Any kind of persistent moisture will allow mold to get a foothold and soon ruin carpet or wood flooring.

Frothed foam is densely packed and will adhere well to the concrete and the carpet backing. As such it s vital you seal your concrete floor properly before laying any carpet. Installing carpet over a basement concrete cement floor can be a simple project and requires very few tools to accomplish. Carpet tiles can adhere to concrete plywood or particleboard subfloors.

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. When installing carpet it s easiest to start with a solid concrete subfloor which provides a stable base for installation. Any carpet fiber style from plush to loop can be applied to a concrete floor. And both of the options use the same layers of 1 2 in.

Before you can install carpet tiles you must prepare the existing floor. You then have two options depending on your circumstances. Frothed foam padding is a good choice to use on concrete floors because it responds well in heavy traffic areas. The damp proof membranes installed in concrete floors to stop moisture rising through them can be ineffective.

For below grade slabs assume that the concrete floor will get damp at some point. To install carpet on concrete choose a carpet that is constructed of synthetic products only as natural fibers are often too absorbent. Installing carpet also helps to insulate the interior of a basement by keeping the floor warm in cold weather. Carpet is a common choice as a finish covering for the basement floor.

The chosen fiber material type should be a synthetic form such as olefin face fiber. It is a good choice overall because it softens the surface and increases the comfort level when you walk across the floor. Then lay tack strips around the perimeter of the room and install your strips of padding.