Laminate manufacturers all have their own specific instructions for installation and any deviations could void your warranty so always check these first. Some manufacturers do sell laminate that can be installed over short pile carpet that is less than ¼ inch high and has no pad underneath. However, in general we would advise against laying laminate flooring over carpet for the following reasons:

1) Laminate is designed to slide onto a slick surface such as polyethylene. It may be difficult to lay your laminate flooring with ease on a surface like carpet, which will make it stick.

2) Tiny amounts of moisture resident in a carpet can damage the laminate. The laminate on top will not let the carpet breathe causing trapped moisture build-up and mould on the carpet surface. This will eventually damage the boards beyond repair and produce a horrible fusty smell.

3) There needs to be a ¼ inch gap around the outskirts of the room so you will have to cut your carpet up around the edges anyway.

4) Laminate needs to be lain over a firm flat surface with no bumps or creases or it will buckle and warp in just a few months.

Taking up your old carpet can be very tedious and time consuming but shortcuts are best not taken if you want your laminate floor to look its best and last longest. It is best to lay it with the correct laminate underlay than to take shortcuts that may end up needing correcting in future. For more advice on how to lay laminate contact the manufacturer direct.

When considering what type of flooring to have in your home or other property, there are a number of things to consider. For those who like a hard flooring, you might decide upon either wooden or laminate flooring, both of which have a number of advantages.

The most obvious difference between natural hard wood flooring and laminate flooring is the cost. Wooden flooring is typically more expensive than laminate, sometimes by quite a large margin. Therefore, if your budget is tight or you don’t want to spend a large amount of money on your flooring, then laminate flooring could be a suitable option.

On the other hand, real wooden flooring provides a touch of high quality elegance which you won’t find anywhere else. When fitted and treated correctly by professionals, real wooden flooring can last a lifetime and can become a durable investment. It also adds value to any property, when it comes to re-selling. Wooden flooring can also save your money – it is typically warmer than laminate flooring, and so can help reduce your energy usage and bills.

Although laminate flooring might not always look as high quality as hardwood flooring, is has a number of advantages. Firstly, there are a large number of colours and designs available to choose from, so you are sure to find a design to suit the interior of your property. Secondly, marks and scrapes are typically harder to spot on laminate floors. Finally, it is much easier to replace than wooden flooring. If you do end up with bad scratches or marks, it costs less to replace than it would if you had a hardwood floor.

Do always remember that you can also choose from a range of other floor coverings – carpets, tiles, rugs and more. For more information on the types of flooring available, click here.