Can basement carpeting be put down without padding?
Question:I realize putting carpet in a basement is risky because of water issues. Instead of gluing the carpet down can I install it with tackless strips and not use padding. If I ever get water, I figure I can remove the carpet, clean and dry it out and reinstall it. If I glue it down it can't be removed without destroying it.
Answers:
We don't have too many basements in Texas, but I have converted one of my garages into a T.V. room (aka teenager hang out with remote control door, fridge, sound system...you know..all the cool things that lure them away from your personal, tranquil space.) I had the same delima with the carpet. Padding provides more sound buffering, insulation and comfort; but is a real chore to deal with when it gets wet. also in a high-traffic people area where there is a lot of abuse like spilled drinks, tracked in dirt or snow, pets...the padding traps all kinds of "who-knows-what" and will start to smell. Even a worse problem in a basement. I shopped around for alternative ideas and ended up getting a high-grade (no knap) indoor/outdoor carpet from a commercial supplier. I was even able to find a reminant piece (cheap) that fit my smaller space. This type has extra thick rubber on the back side because it's usually used for commercial spaces where workers stand a lot. It even come in cool colors now too, not just blue or grey. It gives that comfy padded feel without having to use a seperate padding. Also, to make it easier to manuver when it gets occassional saturation from rain run-off, or a big spill in one area, I had the carpet cut and professionally installed in 4 pieces. If it gets soaked, it's easier to fold and drag the pieces out to dry instead of a big roll. We put the pieces out on the driveway, vaccum out the water with a shop-vac, let them dry, flip them over and dry the rubber backing, mop the concrete with a mild bleach solution (no mold) and slide the pieces back into place. We had a small aquarium drop one time, but we only had to remove one of the 4 sections which made it easy to clean up the mess. Tip:(Number the floor and the backside of the carpet pieces with a grease pencil, so you get an exact fit when you put them back in place.) I've never had to use tacking or glue because the rubber grips the concrete pretty well.
They have a pink foam padding that's water resistant.If you use the tackless strips,you'll need wood moulding to hold the edges down.If the carpet gets wet it's usually trash.Mold grows like crazy and gets so thick it smells terrible.
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