Can You Lay Laminate Over Concrete?

If you’re looking for a great way to update your home with a beautiful new floor that will also serve a practical function then laminate flooring is, without doubt, one of the best options. But what a lot of DIYers don’t realise is that there is much to laying laminate floor boards than meets the eye. 

For example, it is vital that you have a smooth, even and dry surface onto which you’ll lay the planks. But since there are many options when it comes to subfloors, it can be difficult to know which is the best one. Which leads us to the question: can you lay laminate over concrete?

Laminate can be laid on top of concrete. This is one of the most common types of subfloor so it usually provides a very stable base for your flooring. However, it is highly recommended to use a good quality underlayment before installing the laminate flooring.

That said, there are some factors that you will need to take into account when installing laminate flooring on a concrete subfloor. The most important of these factors is the humidity level of the concrete. If you are laying laminate flooring over newly laid concrete then it is vital that the material is given an adequate amount of time to dry before installing the planks. 

It may sound like a long wait but you should generally leave the concrete to cure for at least 30 days before going near it with laminate flooring. Failing to do this will mean that moisture gets into the boards causing them to warp or buckle. 

However, concrete will, even after this time, still contain a certain degree of moisture and this level will vary depending on the conditions in the room. To avoid any excess moisture making its way into the concrete, it is highly recommended to use a vapour barrier in between the concrete and the underlayment. 

Even if your concrete is not newly installed, there may be imperfections present such as holes, bumps and lumps. In this case, you would not want to lay the laminate down directly on top of this. You would first need to smooth and even out the area. While it is possible to fill in large imperfections, a good quality underlayment will also solve any problems.

It is also important to note that concrete is, by nature, a very cold material which will make the room colder if there isn’t proper insulation in place. This is another reason to make sure that you always use a decent quality underlayment so that your room feels much cosier. Not to mention, not using an underlayment will make the floor much harder and less comfortable underfoot. 

Can You Lay Laminate Over Tiles?

The great thing about a tiled floor is that it acts in very much the same way as concrete so you’ll have no problems installing laminate flooring over the top. However, it is once again imperative that you make sure the floor is level before beginning and where necessary, you will need to even out the surface. 

Much like when working with concrete, using a good underlayment is a must as this will provide a more even surface, warmth, comfort and noise reduction. 

One thing that we should point out is that attempting to install laminate floor boards over cracked or otherwise damaged tiles will result in a substandard installation. In cases like these, we would vastly recommend repairing the tiles or removing them completely. 

Can You Lay Laminate Over Carpet?

Whether or not you can lay laminate flooring over carpet will largely depend on the type of carpet you are working with. If you are able to then we would advise removing the carpet as this is not the ideal subfloor for laminate but in some cases, you may be able to do it. 

Low pile carpets are partially compatible with laminate flooring but you should never attempt to install laminate over thick or long pile carpets. Provided that your low pile carpet is even and without imperfections, you can go ahead and lay the laminate on top. However, removing it certainly comes with its benefits including removing the number of allergens and ensuring a more even floor. When laying laminate over low pile carpets, there is little need for underlayment.

Where long pile carpets are concerned, if you absolutely must use this as a subfloor then we would recommend laying down some thin sheets of plywood to create a more even surface before installing the laminate. However, you should keep in mind that because of the density of the carpet, this may cause problems with the locking system of the laminate flooring therefore affecting the overall stability of the structure. 

Conclusion

If you have an existing flooring material in place then it can be time consuming and costly to remove it prior to installing your new laminate flooring. While it is possible to install laminate flooring over the top of low pile carpet and tiles, you will need to make sure that the surface is level and free from imperfections. 

When it comes to laying laminate flooring over concrete, this is very common but you must first ensure that the material is as free from moisture as possible. For new concrete floors, this means allowing a 30 day curing period and for older concrete, we would recommend the use of a vapour barrier between the concrete and the underlay to protect the laminate from absorbing water.