Does Carpet Ruin Hardwood Floors?

I have an old house and a big family, and there’s no denying that carpeting over some of the hardwood floors makes them feel warmer, and softens the sounds of so many feet! But does carpet ruin hardwood floors? Carpet can damage hardwood flooring if it is poorly fitted and looked after. But some simple steps will protect the wood floors underneath, so that they are still preserved for future.

Contents

• Does carpet ruin hardwood floors?
• Can you install carpet over hardwood floors?
• Can carpets damage your hardwood floor?
• A story about carpet on my hardwood floor
• How to protect your hardwood floor from carpet damage
• Should you put carpet over your hardwood floors?
• Choosing the right carpet for your hardwood floor

Does Carpet Ruin Hardwood Floors?

Carpet and hardwood floors are two of the most popular floor coverings in homes worldwide, and both have their advantages and disadvantages. If you’ve ever wondered whether a new carpet or your existing carpet will ruin the hardwood floors underneath, it’s time to find out!

It may seem evident that inadequate care of your flooring will eventually cause some damage, but carpets and hardwood floors work excellently together for many reasons. Read on to discover the surprising truth about carpet and hardwood floors, along with information on how you can keep both looking beautiful for years to come!

Can you Install Carpet over Hardwood Floors?

Yes, you can install carpet over hardwood floors. However, there are some steps to take before doing so. First, you should ensure that the wood is not so old or damaged that it will be unsafe to walk on. Second, you must choose an underlayment which is suitable for using on top of hardwood flooring.

It’s also important to consider what type of wear and tear your home experiences regularly. If you have doubts about whether your wood is in good condition, consult a professional before proceeding with the installation.

Can Carpets Damage your Hardwood Floor?

Carpets can do a lot of damage to hardwood floors, depending on what type of floor you have. Factors which contribute to damage include the type of carpet you get, how it is installed, the quality and durability of the wood floor underneath, and the amount of footfall in that room.

Some carpets are actually heavier than hardwoods, so they leave dents in the floor as they get walked on. Some carpet wool is also abrasive, which will eventually cause your wood floor to become dull and scratched over time. There’s also a risk that high-traffic areas might scratch the surface of your wood floor over time, and the nails used to secure the carpet can leave marks on your beautiful wood floor too. Finally, when carpets get wet, they can hold onto whatever spills or dirt are on them, and these things can work through onto your hardwoods as you walk across them.

Luckily, with today’s advanced technology, these problems can be largely eliminated thanks to anti-static carpets and backings that adequately protect against damage. There are even specially designed underlayments to place under high-traffic areas such as hallways and living rooms to help lessen any kind of dent or scuff marks caused by furniture or people walking on your carpet across the floor.

A Carpet on my Hardwood Floor

I’ve had the same carpet on some of my hardwood floor since we moved into this house in 2002. The carpet is not ugly or even worn out or anything, so it had never occurred to me that I would ever replace it.

No matter how much traffic my family of five generated between the kitchen and the family room every night as we made dinner, played games, and did homework, my floor felt strong as usual. And then, one day, I looked down and noticed little pieces of sawdust on the floor.

Unfortunately, the wooden floors were being scratched by some abrasive materials. This happened after removing the mat near the door because I thought I no longer needed a buffer between home and outdoors. My family used to step in directly onto the carpet, leaving dust, dirt, and other particles that possibly got carried around on the soles of our feet and made some scratches on my floor.

The good news is I was able to get rid of the abrasive materials properly, clean the floor, and put back the door mat, saving my lovely hardwood floor from extensive damage. This was a well-learned lesson: a door mat can protect your hardwood floor, especially if you have a carpet on your foot. Even experts agree that door mats are essential for maximum protection of hardwood floors!

How to Protect your Hardwood Floor from Carpet Damage

Carpet has advantages over hardwood when it comes to properties such as insulation, draft exclusion and sound-deadening. But if you choose to lay carpet over your hardwood floor, it just makes sense to protect the wood underneath, so that you or a future resident of your home have the option of restoring it in future. To keep your hardwood floor in good condition and prevent it from being scratched or damaged by your carpet, take heed of these steps to prevent carpet damage to your hardwood floor! The tips will not only help you maintain your flooring but will also help ensure your carpet looks as good as new!

• Limit or avoid cleaning your hardwood floor with water.
• Use furniture protectors on furniture legs.
• Sweep and mop your flooring to keep it clean.
• Use the correct cleaning products.
• Lay down runners and mats.
• Clean up spills immediately.
• Clip pets’ nails.
• Limit traffic.

Should you Put Carpet over your Hardwood Floors?

Area rugs are an excellent way to keep your hardwood floors clean and protect them against scratches, dents, and other wear-and-tear that can occur during use and over time. Wall-to-wall carpets have some merits too. Here are some reasons you should consider installing carpet on your hardwood floor:

• it’ll improve the indoor air quality
• provide warmth and comfort
• reduce noise when walking on your floor
• and prevent slips and falls.

With new advances in carpeting technology, it’s never been easier to decide if carpeting over your hardwood floors makes sense or not.

Choosing the Right Carpet for your Hardwood Floor

When shopping around for a carpet, you’ll find all kinds of materials, colours, and patterns. The right rug or carpet can distinguish between beautiful floors that last and those that look dingy after just a few years of use. Check out these five tips for choosing the right carpet for your hardwood floor.

• Great wearing carpet starts with the right underlayment. Ask you installer what’s the best option for your floor.
• Consider the shape of your room, and choose a pattern with the right scale. Small patterns can look overly fussy on large floors.
• Choose the right carpet size. Carpets are sold in different widths, and choosing an appropriate one means no unsightly seams.
• Consider the maintenance requirements – different fibers (such as wool vs synthetic) and piles (such as long vs short or loop vs twist) involve different levels of commitment to keep them looking good.
• Check the terms of any warranties or guarantees offered by the manufacturer or the fitter.

Does Carpet Ruin Hardwood Floors?

Some people have no qualms about putting carpet on top of their hardwood floors to add an extra layer of warmth and comfort to the room. Carpets can be safer too, since you’re less likely to slip on them. However, it may be a surprise that carpet can damage the underlying wood if it is fitted poorly. Choosing the right carpet, installing correctly, and doing regular floor/carpet cleaning can save your hardwood floor from damage and keep your carpet strikingly clean. This means nothing is ruined, and you can always reveal the wooden floor again in future if you want!

Unsure About Putting Carpet Over Hardwood Floors?

Covering hardwoods with carpet is a controversial design choice at the moment. But we think there’s no point being a slave to design trends if carpets would have more practical benefits for you, or even just make you happier! Let us know what you decide to do in the comments box down below.

More Helpful Carpet Information

• Does wool attract bugs to your carpet?
• How important is carpet padding?
• Wool vs nylon carpet temperature
• Will carpet tape leave a sticky mess behind?
• Do cats ruins carpets?

References

• Elsevier B.V. (2011) “Production Techniques of Pure Wool Carpet.” ScienceDirect.
• Shravan et al. (2018) “Abrasion Behaviour of Wool-Viscose Hand Tufted Carpets UsingResponse Surface Methodology.” ResearchGate, Journal of Polymer Science and Engineering.
• StaticWorx Grounded Solutions (2022) “What Does Antistatic Carpet Mean?”