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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to put a carpet over a carpet?

20 replies

hungrytillater · 23/09/2017 22:55

I should probably have name changed - my awful carpet is legendary. We live in a great rental house which we plan to stay in for a while, kids in good local schools etc. The living/dining room is around 10metres and every inch is covered with an 1980's monstrosity which requires sunglasses. I'm really sick of it. Landlord won't change it as 'it's a bit old fashioned but in good condition' Hmm.
I'm tempted to buy a cheap foam backed (neutral!) carpet and lay it over the top. I know I won't be perfect but the general impression would be greatly improved. I thought we could lift existing room joiners and tuck it under.
Has anyone done this? Or any other suggestions? Tried plain rugs but it doesn't really help, just looks all jumbled up.

OP posts:
StumpyScot92 · 23/09/2017 23:04

Yeah it will work. We did it in my room as a kid when my mum couldn't afford underlay. Carpet tacks are your friend.

Original poster
hungrytillater · 23/09/2017 23:19

Oh wow, that's good news, would carpet tacks not damage the carpet underneath?

OP posts:
RainbowsAndCrystals · 23/09/2017 23:22

I remember my parents doing this in my bedroom, pale carpet over a red one patterned one.

It was fine until there was a little leak from the radiator and the red colour soaked through in pstches.

NoSquirrels · 23/09/2017 23:29

Pay a fitter to lift it, fit new, and store the old one (shed/loft). Then put it back when you leave.

Or offer LL to pay half for a new one.

Original poster
hungrytillater · 23/09/2017 23:59

Ideal but can't really afford that squirrels.

OP posts:
dentydown · 24/09/2017 00:52

If the carpet is quite flatish it should work out. Make sure it's well tucked in at the door to avoid tripping!
There are loads of room sized remnants available now quite cheaply. The other option is a room size rug

Hotheadwheresthecoldbath · 24/09/2017 01:15

If doors open into the room then make sure they can still open with an extra layer there.

shakingmyhead1 · 24/09/2017 03:58

when i got my home it had the ugliest carpet imaginable, got a cleaner in and he tried 3 times to get it clean and in the end refunded my money as he couldnt get it even slightly clean, told me to replace it, when i did get it replaced it was 3 layers deep, omg did it hold the dust, no wonder the carpet cleaner dude couldn't get it clean, so just keep it in mind that the dust will get trapped and stay in the carpet underneath and could be bad if you have an asthmatic child or allergies etc

Original poster
hungrytillater · 24/09/2017 06:46

denty it's actually three rooms that run together so remnants/rugs not an option, put I have found an affordable new carpet.
Thanks for the heads up about the asthma shaky dh has asthma.

OP posts:
Original poster
hungrytillater · 24/09/2017 06:48

shaky do you think that would still happen if the upper carpet was rubber backed?

OP posts:
shakingmyhead1 · 24/09/2017 06:56

im not sure, our carpets here have a woven back sorta like a mat does and we use a rubber underlay and its formed in sort of a s pattern or a rubber foam underlay,
( so i guess rubber backed would be ok, but there are many MM users who will most likely know more about what is the best kind for where you live)
just wanted to warn you of the dust that gets trapped in the carpet layers, even after all the cleaning when we lifted and discovered it was 3 layers of carpet the dust was so bad, im not sure the cleaning even got to the 3 layer as the floorboards underneath were perfect.

insancerre · 24/09/2017 06:57

Just ask the landlord if you can pay to replace it

BarbaraOcumbungles · 24/09/2017 07:04

I don’t understand how you can afford a carpet to go over he existing carpet but can’t afford to replace the carpet Confused

WhirlingTurkey · 24/09/2017 07:06

I don’t understand how you can afford a carpet to go over he existing carpet but can’t afford to replace the carpet

This!

Phosphorus · 24/09/2017 07:27

It's one of the downsides of renting.

Most landlords will withhold your deposit if you decorate or change anything. Even improvements.

OP would have to store the old carpet somewhere, costing £££ more.

Rubberduckies · 24/09/2017 07:28

I don’t understand how you can afford a carpet to go over he existing carpet but can’t afford to replace the carpet

I assumed OP can't afford to pay for lifting old carpet, fitting new carpet and then putting old carpet down again at the end? But can afford the carpet? That's how I read it anyway!

Hunkle · 24/09/2017 07:31

Could you move? Tell the L.L your eyes cant take anymore.

Original poster
hungrytillater · 24/09/2017 08:23

Yes rubber understood correctly, the costs of fitting and potentially replacing underlay as well if needed would be more than the cost of a cheap new carpet.

Hunkle it's a brilliant house and so cheap for the area due to the crap carpet we really don't want to move.

The landlord overall seems nice though, so I might approach him again before we decide to go ahead. The trapped dust issue is a concern.

OP posts:
Gladiolies · 24/09/2017 08:28

Yes have done this- used strategically placed carpet tacks and then put rugs on top too to help weight it and look cosy. No problems taking it up and no huge dust issues as others seems to mention.

Original poster
hungrytillater · 24/09/2017 09:40

Oh great, thanks Gladioles, we have a few heavy bits of furniture which I'm hoping will anchor it down.

OP posts:
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