Imperfections in your subfloor can lead to problems with your new carpet like gaps or lumps or damage from moisture or odors.
Carpet tile on plywood subfloor.
You can lay carpet squares directly over concrete plywood and osb or particleboard subfloors as well as over vinyl tile laminate and some hardwood finished floors.
The plywood will expand and contract at a different rate as the tile causing cracks to develop in the grout lines or tiles over time.
It can also be used under hardwood laminate and carpet but this is much less common these days because subflooring is typically smooth enough for these materials many of which are installed with a different type of underlayment or pad.
Before you can install carpet tiles you must prepare the existing floor.
The backing may eventually discolor some wood floors.
Plywood underlayment is a thin plywood material that is most commonly used under resilient flooring materials such as vinyl and linoleum sheets and tiles.
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.
Carpet tiles are colorful versatile and easy to install making them the perfect comfort flooring option for homeowners and renters interested in do it yourself projects.
Follow these guidelines to prepare your floor and protect your new carpet investment.
Loose areas on an existing plywood subfloor can cause peel and stick tiles to lift over time.
Even some of the.
What s more carpet tiles can be placed over existing floors eliminating the time and effort needed to remove old flooring and flooring adhesive.
No matter how firm the subfloor.
Whether you re installing new carpet yourself or having a professional do it it s important to prepare your floors before installation.
Underneath the hardwood laminate tile or carpet lies the subfloor and it s a component that only gets attention during a full scale renovation or a full blown problem.
Assess your existing floor.
Carpet tiles can adhere to concrete plywood or particleboard subfloors.
Order the carpet adding an extra 10 percent for waste.
This should be followed by a second layer of 15 32 inch thick plywood installed with a 1 4 inch gap between sheets.