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ItsMargo wrote:It's on the table for a decision next week Levi and I'll likely post my agony for your amusement *grins*. That decision was temporarily bounced by the dumpster's arrival to get rid of the construction debris. sheesh, where has the summer gone? I'm back to work in a few weeks and we're still not out of the basement.

Still a flooring question, but the basement this time:
There is a very low pile wall to wall commercial carpet in the basement that is glued to the concrete floor. It's in good shape, no loose spots, just ugly as sin. I'd like to leave it in place, using it as an underpad, so to speak, and have wall to wall berber installed over top of it. Is there any reason NOT to do this? (i suppose I really ought to have asked this question before the dumpster came and went, LOL)

Wrote a big long post then lost my connection and post.

Suffice to say, Mildew.

More layers of incubation, the greater the difficulty to rid.

Basements are highly prone to flooding and most have a sump pump that home owners know nothing of until a plumber is called and tells them it failed.

I would recommned stripping the carpet (might include chemicals) and staining the concrete. It can look quite attractive when done correctly and sealed. A rug can always be added.

Less expensive to clean or replace in a mishap.

Otherwise, leave what you have and check the sump pump.

If you're including any framing in the basement remod. make sure they're floating walls.

good luck!

PS: When's the wedding? Might make it if I were invited.

Hey Margo

Glad you guys are out of the basement soon ...

If you leave the old carpet here are a couple of issues. One is that because of the makeup of the carpet fibers they retain water, Which is not good because flood or not basements tend to acquire moisture from the ground even through the concrete.

Underlay is made up of porous material that has layers of air and allow a damp carpet to dry more quickly. They also act as a vapor barrier between the concrete carpet and then your feet. They retain warmth in the winter also.

The old carpet has probably lost its bounce and with another carpet on top it will surely flatten out. Thus not giving you that wonder feel of carpet on a good under-pad.

One thing is if the old carpet has rubber underneath ... as long as it hasn't started to break down that might do. But again the carpet on the top of that will retain water. That water will lie under your new carpet. ALSO It is probably ... no matter how good you clean it got debris that will not come out and so this will be under your new carpet. The debris will wear under your new carpet and start to wear it out from underside out.

Dirt ... normal dirt wears out furniture and carpet more quickly than anything ... that is why vacuuming as often as possible keep longer life in fabrics. Handy house hold hint !!!

Another nasty thing that could happen ... if you spill on your carpet and you have to have it cleaned .... yuck,.,, you got that old carpet underneath that is going to retain all that solution and your new carpet is going to take a long time to dry.

Oh well that is the end of my sales pitch for today.

Well, that does it... I'll continue to exist with the ugly carpet in the basement.
Thanks to you both... better explanations than the flooring people I asked!

So, Margo, I've been holding my breath for months. Whatcha walkin' on?

Currently tripping over flooriing samples strewn all over the kitchen floor. EVERYTHING has ground to a halt with Moose's bad back, the kidlet's concussion and my being behind on my marking.

*sigh* I'm going backazzwards FAST, sad to say.

Don't worry, this is one contest I'll win, fully renovated kitchen, few years before I picked and bought flooring, another few years of it sitting stacked in the dining room. Sure do love it now, though. I'm sure you'll do better than that, and flooring, it's the small stuff.