Are you planning on replacing your old carpet with new flooring? Then you must also be curious about how long it will take to complete this task. We have researched this with the professionals in this field and here is what we found out:
Replacing a carpet with hardwood will take up to three days while laminate can take more than a week to be installed. This duration is hugely affected by the total floor area that you will cover. The smaller it is, the fewer the days. The bigger the space, the longer the required time to complete this task.
Now that you are aware of how long it will take to renovate your flooring, we will proceed with learning the other aspects and things that you should be aware of before planning on doing the replacement. That way, you can plan this better, and your possible queries might be answered.
Replacing Carpet With Hardwood Or Laminate
You might think that 3 to 10 days of waiting to give your space a 360-degree glow up through a new flooring might be too long. We know, the excitement of seeing your home in a new "shoe" might shorten your patience. However, you should understand why it took this long for it to be accomplished.
But first, congratulations because whether you are choosing hardwood or laminate, you are already gaining a lot of benefits. To make you understand what we are talking about, let us look at each flooring's advantages. Shall we?
Benefits Of Hardwood Flooring
Here are the pros you can get when you choose hardwood flooring.
- You can easily clean it
- It is not hard to repair
- Requires little maintenance due to its durability
- Adds up value to your home
- It does not trap dust and other dirt
- Can reduce the noise in your room
- Lasts a very long time
Benefits Of Laminate Flooring
Below are the benefits you will gain upon using laminate flooring.
- Less expensive than hardwood floors
- Moisture, dirt, scratch, and dust resistant
- Not hard to install
- Excellent durability
- Offers a lot of style variations
- Adapts to the different subfloor
These points given may exceed your carpet experience. Going back, let us talk about why replacing a carpet with either of the two takes up a lot of time. And to be able to understand the reason for this, we will have to tackle the process involved for each type of flooring.
But bear in mind that the size of the room will highly affect the amount of time necessary, but it is not the only factor. Most of this time frame is not due to the installation but for the flooring to acclimate.
Proper acclimation lets your hardwood or laminate adapt to the room's environment. This can help your wood or laminate's last longer.
How Long Does It Take To Remove Carpet?
The removal of the carpet per se can be done in 30 to 60 minutes by pulling the portions carefully. Since it might have a lot of dust, make sure to wear a face mask because it can trigger asthma and allergies.
Replacing Carpet With Hardwood Flooring
Hardwood floor needs from 3 days to more than a week for this process. It is hard to give an exact duration since it lies on so many factors. These are:
- Area's climate
- The type of wood you use
- Moisture content upon its delivery
- Starting and finishing methods that will be performed
- Wood's dimension
- Weather
To give you an overview, cold climates need a shorter period while extremely dry areas require a longer time of acclimation. However, this can also be adjusted based on the changes in the weather. A sudden storm or frequent rainfall can increase the environment's humidity.
Take a look at the different types of woods and how long they need to acclimate.
- Solid - at least 3 days
- Engineered - at least 3 days
- Luxury vinyl - at least a day
If you want an accurate estimation for this to fit the replacement into your schedule, it is best to consult and have the professionals assess your area and home's condition.
How Many Hours Does It Take To Install Hardwood Flooring?
Once the wood is done acclimating, the actual installation begins. This will take a day or as many as three to be done, depending on how big the target area is. Another factor is how experienced or fast the installer is in doing the task. If you are going to do it by yourself for the first time, it may take you more time.
During these days, you are going to prepare the subfloor and area, laying down and properly aligning the boards, nailing, finishing, etc.
Replacing Carpet With Laminate Flooring
Like the hardwood, acclimating your laminate floor makes the whole process 2 days or more. By doing so, you will need to consider several factors and make sure to be consistent in providing the following:
- Ambient temperature (65 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit)
- Floor temperature (not less than 59 degrees Fahrenheit)
- Humidity (30 to 70 percent)
Aside from this, a newly painted room and freshly poured concrete slab must be left until fully cured before purchasing the laminate and letting it acclimate.
How Many Hours Does It Take To Install Laminate Flooring?
Placing the laminate flooring can be done within a few hours to a day, although this also depends on how small or big the place is.
How Much Does It Cost To Rip Out Carpet And Install Hardwood?
The cost of ripping out a carpet and installing wood flooring ranges from $4.25 to $9.25 per square foot. Carpet removal is $1 to $1.50 per square foot. And since you will need to set aside or remove the furniture that might get in the way, having the hired personnel do that is $0.20 to $0.25 per square foot of the item.
Meanwhile, the price of installing the flooring itself will depend on what type it is. Refer to the list below to know the price of the hardwood types per square foot.
- Pine - $4.50 to $10
- Bamboo - $5 to $11
- Hickory - $6 to $13
- Red oak - $8 to $13
- White oak - $8 to $15
- White ash - $9 to $15
- Brazilian walnut - $11 to $20
How Much Does It Cost To Rip Out Carpet And Install Laminate?
Hiring a professional take out the carpet and install laminate flooring can cost you between $600 to $8,300. Separately, the elimination of the carpet ranges from $144 to $216. On top of that, laminate floor installation depends on the type of laminate multiplied by the square area.
Here are their respective prices per square foot when installation.
- Maple - $2.70 to $6.70
- Oak (red or white) - $2.70 to $6.70
- Acacia - $5 to $7
- Cherry - $5 to $7
- Beech - $5 to $7
- Hickory - $8 to $10
- Walnut - $2.90 to $6.90
Can I Install Laminate Flooring Over Carpet?
Yes, you may install laminate flooring over a carpet. However, this is not for everyone. You need to consider the type of carpet that is currently on the floor. Look out for the following criteria.
- Laying flat on the surface
- Strong quality
- In very good condition
- Has no damage
- Has short carpet fibers
The same thing goes with hardwood floorings. This is good news for those who are not able to remove their carpets for one reason or another. Plus, it can save you the time, money, and effort of hiring someone to do the task or even doing it yourself.
But of course, getting rid of the old flooring can give you benefits also, such as not having to worry about the long-term effects that go with it. One issue that can occur is that carpets often have an uneven surface because some areas are higher-traffic than others.
Another thing to consider is that you will need to properly prepare your carpet before covering it with either hardwood or laminate. Make sure that you clean it thoroughly. Remove the dust that is present and triple-check if there are no damp spots since this may result in mold.
If that happens, you will most likely have to remove both the carpet and the flooring that you placed over it.