Can you install carpet over tiled floors?

When we think of floors that are commonly covered with carpeting, tiles do not generally feature in those thoughts. Carpets are more typically used to cover floors made of wood or stone than ones with vinyl, laminate or ceramic tiling on them.

That is because people view carpeting as a way of softening hard floor surfaces such as stone or wood, as well as helping to keep heat within a room. None of that means that it is impossible to fit carpets on top of tiled floors, or that there is anything wrong in doing so.

However, if that is what you want there are some factors that you should consider before going ahead.

Why opt for carpeting?

The first thing to think about is exactly why you want to cover your tiled floor with a carpet.

One good argument for doing so is that you want to give the room a new, revamped look but do not want the trouble and cost of lifting the old flooring. In that situation, there is no denying that choosing an attractive carpet will allow you to revitalise the space quickly and with a minimum amount of expense.

Another good reason for doing it is if you are renting the house or flat and you want the floor to be softer underfoot and warmer. Putting a carpet over the top of the existing tiles will enable you to achieve a warmer floor when you are not allowed to make permanent changes.

If and when you leave the property, the carpet can be lifted and taken with you to use in your new home. If you do rent rather than own the property, you will need to be especially careful not to cause damage to the tiles when putting down the carpet. This will be more difficult to achieve if you are not experienced at fitting floor surfaces.

Is any tiling suitable?

In principle, all types of tiling, from stone tiles to luxury vinyl tile (LVT) floors, are fine for putting carpet over. The only issue to be aware of is to do with the condition of the tiles rather than the sort of material they are made of.

It will not be a good idea to lay carpeting over tiles that are either faulty or broken. Look out for cracked tiles on the floor and use a pen to tap them to make sure none emit a hollow sound.

You should also check that none of the tiles on the floor are loose. If there are any issues of this sort, defective tiles should be taken out and the gaps filled in with some sort of cement or other filling material to make the floor level before any carpeting is put down.

The other situation where carpeting on top of tiled floors can be a problem is when the grouting between each tile is very deep and wide. That is most common in parts of the home like patios with sizeable tiles made of terracotta.

How is it done?

Fitting carpet on top of tiling is pretty similar to laying it over a cement floor. The carpet must be stretched across it and the smooth edging should ideally be glued down at the outermost part.

Then the carpet is further held in place by nails hammered into the tile grouting. These nails should go into the lines of grouting that lie closest to the walls on all sides of the room.

However, before the carpet officially gets laid down, it will be necessary to think about the underlay. This should be thick enough to conceal a slightly uneven tiled floor beneath.

Picking a carpet with a high density underlay of around 10mm will provide you the best results. Not only will it smooth out bumps in the floor below, but it will help to conceal the hard feel of the tiles and create a soft, gentle surface to walk on.

That can be particularly important if you live in a part of the country like Chester in the North West, which is prone to cold winters. However, if you want to get a really good finish and avoid lasting damage to the tiles, hiring a carpet fitter to do the job will be more sensible than trying to lay it yourself.

What sort of carpet is suitable?

A reasonably thick carpet will be a lot better than a thin one. The other feature to avoid is tightly looped piles, because these will accentuate any unevenness in the tiling beneath them.

The best carpet to pick will have a twist-style pile that will conceal such slight flaws in the flooring underneath.

In conclusion, you certainly can fit carpet over tiled floors, but it will be best to let a professional handle the job.