If you’re looking at an old carpet that isn’t doing much to protect your home floors, you might be considering an update. Instead of prying the old carpet loose, however, many homeowners will make the mistake of leaving the old material underneath the new carpet as padding. While the logic behind this might seem sound, carpet installation professionals have routinely advised against it. Caring for your carpet is important if you view your rug as a true investment. Keeping your carpet looking fresh and new means taking the time to choose carpet that won’t fade or wear with time, cleaning your carpet with Olympia’s green-certified carpet cleaner, and installing the proper padding rather than laying a new rug on top of an old one. It might seem tempting and you might imagine that the extra cushioning would only help to create a lusher underfoot feeling, but don’t be fooled. Failing to remove your old carpet could get you in big trouble later on. If you’re getting a new carpet, here are a few things you should know about installation and maintenance.
Keeping Old Carpet is Unsanitary
While the thought of simply throwing a brand new rug over your old one might sound good in the moment, it can actually lay the groundwork for a lot of unpleasant issues later on. If you’ve owned a rug before, you know how difficult it can be to keep your rug smelling clean, looking fresh, and remaining completely mold-free. Now think about doing that with two rugs. That’s essentially what you’ll be doing if you decide not to take up your old rug. In addition to creating an unclean base for your new rug to lay on, you’ll also be creating a breeding ground for age-old germs and dirt to spread between surfaces. Not only does proper carpet padding work to stop the spreading of germs and dirt by providing a clean, absorbent base, it helps protect your rug and stop moisture from getting too far into your floorboards. Rug padding can do a much better job of this than an old rug that’s simply sitting there absorbing everything.
You Won’t Get a Clean Installation
It may seem like a pain to take up an old rug by cutting the tacking strips and pulling up the staples, especially if your rug is a wall-to-wall style. Still, your new rug needs to be installed properly if you want it to stand the test of time. It’s not enough to simply put your rug down flat and hope for the best. When there’s another rug underneath, it creates an uneven, bumpy surface that won’t do your new rug any favors. Not only is your old rug likely to need stretching in order to remain flat, the original tacking will make it exceptionally hard for your new rug to settle and stay in place. Putting tacking strips down on top of an old rug simply doesn’t make for a clean and sturdy installation, as any carpet installation expert will tell you.
You Won’t Get the Same Results as Carpet Padding
As we’ve said before, carpet padding exists for a reason. It’s not meant to do the same job as carpet. It’s meant to support and uplift your carpet, keeping it clean for longer and creating a less germ-filled environment for your carpet, along with protecting your feet over the years. Walking on two rugs might seem just as comfortable as walking on padded carpet, but it’s not the same. Where carpet is usually dense and hard at its base, padding is firm yet soft, created to soften noise, prevent mold growth, and make it much more comfortable for you to walk barefoot on your carpet. Two carpets simply don’t do this work. Instead of helping each other function at their best, they more often end up getting in each others’ way.
You’ll Put Too Much Stress on Your Floor
Your floors aren’t made to support that much weight when it comes to carpeting. While your floors can definitely take a lot of weight, it’s not good for them to deal with the weight of not one but two large rugs at all times. Imagine filling your living room with a few people who stand there all day without moving: This, essentially, is what you’re doing when you install a carpet over a pre-existing carpet. While carpets do vary in size and weight, it’s important to remember that they’re always there, putting pressure on your floors. If you’re interested in protecting your home, you’ll want to swap that old carpet for a lightweight, protective piece of carpet padding.
