ᐅ Laminate Flooring on an Uneven Subfloor

I want to install laminate flooring in some rooms of my house. So far, most of the floors have been covered with carpet that was glued firmly to the old floorboards. When I remove the carpet, most of the adhesive remains on the floorboards. It would save a lot of time and effort if I could lay the laminate directly over the leftover adhesive. However, the floor is quite uneven in its current state. Would the laminate be able to withstand this over time?

Hello Arndt, laminate flooring is not flexible; it cannot handle an uneven subfloor – it will warp, the joints will open up, and it will creak and crunch. You can only remove the adhesive from the floorboards with considerable effort; this usually requires a floor sander and generates a lot of dust, which can be unhealthy depending on the type of adhesive used.

The idea of laying laminate flooring directly over adhesive residue is simply absurd. Anyone involved in this work should know that laminate requires a smooth and dust-free subfloor. Anything else is a wasted effort.

I completely agree. Quick and cheap is not an option here. All adhesive residues must be removed, even if it takes time and some effort. Anything else would mean doubling the work.

Agreed, I see it the same way. I would fill and level the surface to create an even subfloor. This ensures that the laminate flooring will adhere properly. It is also clear that all remnants of the old carpet must be removed beforehand. Otherwise, filling and leveling won’t make sense.

I remember this from a previous rental apartment where we also wanted to install laminate flooring over a wooden subfloor. The wooden floor was uneven, and everyone advised against it. So, we filled in the uneven areas and then laid boards on top. After that, the laminate could be installed and it looked good.