Is it OK to leave subfloor exposed in kids room until able to afford correct flooring?

[lemonfawns]

My son has moved into my childhood bedroom, fit with the same old dingy carpet and everything. He, of course, does not want the same decorations I did as a kid and we’re redecorating but I’m not sure what to do with the flooring.

He’s pretty prone to spilling things so I don’t want a carpet but would put in a rug. I don’t currently have the funds for any real flooring, and I’m not sure my options.

My mum says it should be fine to just take up the carpet and leave him with that floor, nailing down any of the floorboards that are loose, but I don’t know if that’s OK to do? At least until I can save up for some good flooring.

I worry if we rip up the carpet the floorboards will be sort of “unliveable” and could cause splinters, I’ve looked into laminate or self adhesive vinyl but worry if the floor is uneven it’ll be a bigger project than we expect and can’t afford to get a handyman out to help with anything so it’s all me doing it. In the same sort of thought moving his furniture in and out to take up the carpet and put in flooring again and again when I am able to get proper ones would be difficult with no one else able to help me, I’d rather get it all done at once and if the subfloor is good that could be a great option for me in getting it all done fast.

For now I plan to just let him keep the carpet but it’s becoming difficult to keep clean.

Just wondering what others think?

How dirty does a bedroom carpet get?

This - both our boys have carpet, but the only thing that’s ever been spilt is Calpol in the middle of the night with my unsteady hand. We are a no food or drink upstairs house though barring a glass of water on the bedside table

Get a rug doctor and clean the carpet and then move him in and wait til you can afford new carpet

Leave the carpet until you can afford to replace with your choice of floor covering.

You can get ‘off cuts’ of flooring for very little. I think I got my DD (box room) carpet for £80 from a carpet outlet. Even going into carpet right they usually sell off cuts at the back of the shop.

Are you going to have flooring in your own room? Will other people in their room? Why don’t you move into your old room, and give the carpet a clean?

It’s mainly due to its age, it was the carpet I had in my room my entire childhood and it’s quite thin in places and has some holes in it itself, though not big ones. It’s not unsanitary or anything, but even a good hoover struggles to get pet hair and old stains out because of its condition. It’s certainly not comfy to walk on due to its thinness either.

How well it’ll work depends a lot on what’s under the carpet.

Which you only really find out when you lift it.

Whats wrong the with current carpet? That might help with getting some ideas for solutions.

Are you moving in to live with your parents or are you inheriting their house?

If you pull up the carpet, deal with the little nails then apply a good coat of paint (there are some types well suited for this)

This is the only room the carpet is an issue, other rooms in the house the carpets are newer but this one was never replaced from when I was a kid. My current room is tiny and doesn’t give my son room to play about, the carpet in his room is safe, it’s just very old and due a replacement. He just hates the colour of it and how it feels which is why I thought to get rid of it sooner.

Moving in, it would be a lot easier if I was inheriting the house LOL.

Floor boards would be fine, if you bang in any nails.. and if they’re in a bad way you can hire a sander, sand them and varnish them yourself.. lots of you tube videos… dyou know I managed to remove all the skirting's off this 1960s house myself.. if you have time and energy, have a go..

Depending on how old your son is you could get some foam play mats to put on top of the carpet until you can afford to replace it.

Just buy a rug as big as you can afford to tide you over.

It’s the carpet I had when I was a kid so it’s very old, thin or lumpy in a lot of places, has a few holes (not big or dangerous) and getting harder to clean easily, especially dealing with pet hairs from my mums dog. Generally it’s still usable, my son just doesn’t like the feel or colour which is why I wanted to prioritise getting rid of it.

Which room is directly underneath this bedroom? Having just floorboards is LOUD. It makes much more difference than you would expect to noise levels…

Clean the carpet and then get a big cheap rug to put over it for now?

Do you have any idea Whats under the carpet?

If it’s old school floor boards that are plank type then you can often sand them and varnish them and get them looking pretty good. But it’s not a trivial project. If it’s more modern chipboard type boards then theyre less forgiving if they’re not in good condition.

If there’s a hole, might be a way to get an idea Whats under it.

Interim - give the carpet a really good hoover and clean, and get a fairly cheap, large, indoor/outdoor rug (Theyre very easy to clean) and some heavy duty double sided tape. Use the tape to stick the rug down.

A rug from a free Facebook group will tide you over.

If you were going to put a rug over whatever flooring you choose anyway, if you can afford it I'd get that now to put over the carpet, and deal with replacing the carpet as and when

Floorboards are fine, just pull up the carpet grips and fill any holes with wood filler, you could if you wanted to varnish them or paint them. All of our bedrooms have floorboards rather than carpet.

Check on local sites like NextDoor. People are always giving stuff away (or Freecycle if it’s still going). You might be able to pick up a free rug or carpet.

Personally I would keep the carpet until you can replace the floor. We were homeless and when I finally got housed, I couldn't afford the floors for about 8months. It was horrible to look at and made me feel shit about myself

Old floor boards can be draughty and cold unless you've insulation underneath. I'd go on marketplace, FB. We've found some great stuff free.