Carpet Over Concrete Subfloor

While carpet and underlayment will be able to hide some flaws in the concrete sagging or bumby areas may show through.

Carpet over concrete subfloor.

In basements and in homes with slab on grade foundations the subfloor may simply be a concrete slab. As with a floated subfloor nwfa recommends a vapor retarder for glue down subfloors when installing wood flooring over concrete. The subfloor is the foundation beneath finish flooring materials. Add the plywood layer on top and anchor it to the concrete with 15 concrete screws predrilled and countersunk per 4 x 8 ft.

On wood frame floors the subflooring provides a continuous structural surface over the floor joists. To install any kind of floor covering engineered wood laminate carpeting basement subflooring is required. Then lay tack strips around the perimeter of the room and install your strips of padding. Subfloor panels offer much easier installation than the traditional technique of nailing down 2x4 sleepers over the concrete and covering them with plywood.

Concrete or tile over concrete are acceptable floors for uninhabited basements. This is a possible basement flooring project you can diy. Additionally the underlayment is always a waterproof material that will create a waterproof barrier. To install carpet on concrete choose a carpet that is constructed of synthetic products only as natural fibers are often too absorbent.

It strengthens the floor removes bounce and gives the tile a. Check your flooring manufacturer s recommendations to ensure you re using a proper subfloor. The underlayment exists to create an air filled gap between the concrete below and the subflooring which will help to insulate the floor and keep the room warmer. If the concrete subfloor is always dry however laminate floors can be placed directly on the slab.

To prevent this chip away bumbs using a hammer and chisel. Use a 6 staple pattern at the perimeter of the subfloor. Many homeowners are hesitant to using carpet in the basement due to moisture concerns. Cement board a sheet of lightweight concrete and fiberglass mesh should be laid over top of the subfloor for any tile project.

This engineered material acts as a floating floor over concrete to provide extra protection from moisture and create a softer feel underfoot. Keep in mind the average cost of laminate flooring is 1 sf to 5 sf. Patch the concrete subfloor as required. Dimpled polyethylene underlayment is available from home centers flooring suppliers or online.

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