Question: Can I install carpeting over the luxury vinyl plank (LVP) flooring in my basement? The current floor is dark in colour right now and makes the place feel like a dungeon.
Answer: Do you happen to know if your LVP is installed over some kind of subfloor panels? If so, then you can safely install carpeting over your existing floor. If the LVPs are installed directly on the concrete (perhaps with a foam underlay), then carpeting could be risky because of the hazards of condensation and mustiness occurring within the carpet during humid weather. You could always install subfloor panels on top of the LVP, then carpet and underlay. That would work well, and it would make the floor warmer and less mold-prone. In most cases, installing carpet over vinyl flooring in a basement depends entirely on what lies beneath the vinyl.
When Is It Safe to Install Carpet Over Vinyl Flooring?
If your vinyl plank flooring is installed over a proper subfloor system — especially raised panels that create an air gap above concrete — carpeting can work well. The key issue isn’t the vinyl itself, but what’s underneath it. Concrete slabs in basements can transmit moisture during humid weather. Without airflow beneath the floor, that moisture can become trapped in carpet and underlay, leading to musty odors or mold growth.
If your LVP is installed directly over concrete with only a thin foam underlay, adding carpet on top increases the risk of trapping moisture.
Best Practice for Basement Carpet Installation
The safest approach in most basements is to ensure there’s a moisture break between the concrete and finished flooring. Raised subfloor panels create this separation while also adding insulation value and warmth. If installing carpet over an existing vinyl floor on concrete, consider adding subfloor panels first, then a plywood layer if required, before installing carpet and underlay.
This approach improves comfort, reduces condensation risk, and protects indoor air quality.
A new type of subfloor panel is very promising for applications like yours. It’s called Insul-Armor (that’s it above) and it’s new on the market. These all-foam panels are twice as large as traditional subfloor panels but weigh a fraction as much. Insul-Armor is made for use under rigid flooring like laminate or engineered click hardwood but can be used underneath carpeting if some plywood is placed on top of the foam first.
Video Tutorial
Need help choosing an appropriate finished floor for your basement? Basements are different enough that you sometimes need to make different flooring choices compared with above-ground spaces. Watch the video below to learn about basement-friendly flooring options.
- Video Watch Time = 12 minutes
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