New carpet over old

New carpet over old has some benefits. It saves money and effort on removing the old carpet and keeping waste out of landfills. If the old carpet is glued down, it can save time to lay the new one over it. Keeping the carpet adds insulation to cold floors. The existing carpet acts as padding, so a pad is unnecessary. ​

Don’t Carpet Over Carpet
Despite a few obvious benefits, most carpeting experts recommend against installing carpet over the carpet.

Installing tack strips is hard.
By leaving carpet, tack strips are harder to attach (the long, timber strips across the perimeter with upward-pointing spikes). Anchoring nails on tack strips are about 3/4 inch long, which is too short to penetrate a vintage carpet plus pad and subfloor. Putting tack strips can prevent you from laying new carpet over old.

The carpet is insufficient.
Carpet installation and performance require a solid foundation. Base-made carpets wear out quickly. Traffic patterns worn into the old carpet will quickly transfer to the new one.

Studies show that dirt exacerbates mildew and mold in carpeting.

Dirt, water, and high temperatures equal mildew and mold. A vintage carpet can’t easily remove all dirt. But if you have the vintage carpet professionally cleaned first, you’re already spending money on removal.

Dual-carpet adds floor layers
By adding more flooring, you lower your ceiling. If the room has low ceilings, every inch counts. Adding carpet peaks means doorways will scrape and need to be trimmed. Also, remove and reinstall the wooden trim.

You miss the subfloor inspection
Ripping up the carpet lets you check the subfloor and repair any damage.

Before Laying Carpet Over Carpet Here are a few questions that may convince you to toss the old carpet instead of doubling up.

Glued-down carpet is notoriously hard to remove, but as it ages, the adhesives may crack and break. Before assuming a glued-down carpet is impossible to remove, try pulling up a corner.

If removing the glued-down carpet seems too laborious, consider using a power tool, such as a multi-tool with a scraper attachment. A heat gun can help loosen the glue. Be careful using a heat gun near fabrics and carpeting.

Installing New Carpet Over Old
If you still think installing carpet over the existing carpet is the best route, here are some guidelines:

Low-pile
Carpet-over-carpet requires a low-pile carpet. Less is more. A lower pile reduces how much a new carpet layer can raise the floor.

Temporary fix
Carpet-on-carpet must be temporary for comfort. If you’re house-flipping or only staying a short time, this may be a good option. Putting a rug on the carpet is also fine.

Thinly layer
Thin plywood underlayment is better than laying new carpet directly on old carpet. Underlayment provides a rigid base for the new carpet and a place to attach tack strips. Nail the underlayment through the old carpet to the subfloor.

Installing carpet is an investment, so it’s important to care for it properly. Carpet is a popular flooring choice, but it must be maintained regularly. Along with vacuuming and spot cleaning, professional carpet cleaning is essential. Carpet cleaners? Then call Green Carpet’s Cleaning. We offer Same Day Carpet Cleaning Tiburon service.

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