What Types of Flooring Can Be Installed Over Laminate?
Related Product: Magnitude Premium Laminate LVP Flooring Planks Carton of 10
You may want to avoid the labor-intensive process of removing the existing laminate flooring by installing new DIY flooring over the top. Or perhaps you want to add cushioned flooring for specific purposes like home gyms or children's play areas, such as using foam tiles that provide additional comfort.
Some of the best options for laying flooring over laminate include:
- Foam interlocking mats
- Foam rolls
- Rubber interlocking tiles
- Rubber rolls
- Vinyl plank floors
- Vinyl rolls
- Ceramic tiles
- Carpet tiles
- Carpet rolls
Can You Put Foam Flooring Over Laminate?
Choosing to put foam tiles over the top of an existing laminate floor is a relatively easy DIY process. These interlocking foam tiles fit together tightly, meaning installers do not have to apply glue to the puzzle edges to secure a tight fit.
The benefits of interlocking foam tiles include providing a cushioned floor for kids to play or exercise. EVA foam is far softer than the original laminate while providing a surer footing than laminate. When going atop the laminate, the foam can create a slight grip on the original laminate, so it won’t slide around.
Foam also protects the laminate flooring underneath during gym workouts when creating a workout space over a laminate floor at home.
Foam tiles are available in multiple color options, as well as in faux wood options that resemble actual hardwood. Pick the foam flooring over laminate that fits the planned use case for the area.
Greatmats Customers Who Installed Foam Flooring Over Top Of Laminate
Customer JC of Washington State appreciates the ease of installation with foam tiles over laminate.
Customer Jill of Huntington Beach, Calif., does yoga and other fitness activities on foam tiles over the top of laminate.
Customer Csaba of Los Alamos, N.M., also created a workout space with foam tiles, overcoming the slippery nature of hard laminate.
Customer Christina of Las Vegas, Nev., installed colorful tiles over laminate in her daughter’s playroom, creating a safe and fun space.
Roll Out Foam Flooring
For an installer seeking a type of foam flooring mat that provides the highest level of cushioning, consider the Roll Out Wrestling MMA Mat.
This mat measures 5 by 10 feet when rolled out, creating a workout space for ground-based martial arts workouts. It also works to provide a space for laying out a yoga mat, rather than placing the yoga mat directly on laminate.
This roll out mat consists of a 1.25-inch thick cushioned foam base adhered to a vinyl top layer. The vinyl provides a sure footing for workouts and is available in several color options.
Roll out the mat for the workout and then roll it back up for storage afterward.
The back of the foam grips the laminate flooring well, eliminating the possibility of slips during P90X workouts, according to customer Kristen of Salt Lake City, UT.
Joe of Manitowoc Jiu Jitsu Academy installed the roll out foam mats in his studio and loved the extra fusion that the 2” mats provided.
Can You Lay Rubber Flooring Over Laminate?
When seeking to create a workout space in a room that has an existing laminate floor, rubber rolls are an economical style of athletic flooring that also delivers a desirable level of cushioning.Rubber rolls can cover quite a bit of space in a short amount of time, which allows the installation to go faster versus using foam tiles.
For athletes, rubber delivers a sure footing, allowing them to make quick cuts and controlled movements to receive the maximum benefit from their workout time.
Plyometric 1/2 inch Rubber Roll
The Plyometric Rubber Roll product is an especially strong workout flooring over laminate option.
It has more shock absorption capabilities than a typical rubber roll, protecting the lower body joints of the athlete.
It will not slide around over the top of the laminate, according to customer Brian of Mountain View, Calif., providing excellent traction on both sides of the rubber.
This roll’s specific design works with Plyometric exercises, which involve regular jumping and other rigorous actions.
Color Fleck Rubber Flooring Roll
Another rubber roll option for a workout space is the Color Fleck Rubber Flooring Roll. It uses a black base color that’s common in rubber, but it adds color fleck options of either gray or blue to create a more interesting look.
This roll consists of recycled rubber materials, which gives it an eco-friendly design.
Rubber is easier to clean than many other materials, which makes it ideal in an area where sweaty workouts are common.
Customer John uses this roll for his high intensity P90X workouts, creating an ideal workout location over an existing laminate flooring that stays in place and helps soften the impact of the high intensity jumps and other moves. He was also impressed by how it prevents slipping while doing push-ups or planks “with sweat pouring off of you.”
Both of these rubber rolls measure 4 by 10 feet in size, so they will cover a workout space for one person adequately. Each roll measures 1/4 inches in thickness, which yields a lighter weight option than thicker rolls.
Can You Make a Dance Practice Area at Home Over Laminate?
Installers can place the Rosco Marley Dance Floor roll directly over the top of an existing laminate floor. This creates a safe space for soft shoe and ballet dance practices.
Before laying out the roll of vinyl, make sure the laminate subfloor is free of loose pieces, sharp objects, or visible cracks. Because the marley roll is thin, it will show any imperfections in the subfloor.
After repairing the imperfections, just lay out the dance floor roll over the top. It will work as a glue down installation or as a dry lay option.
The Manzel family of Minnesota used this marley roll to set up a temporary home dance practice area for their daughters over the laminate flooring in their living room.
Is It Easy to Create a Faux Wood Floor Atop Laminate?
The Magnitude Premium Vinyl Flooring Planks provide an easy-to-install option to transform a laminate floor into a floor that looks like hardwood.
These planks consist of vinyl, so they carry a far more reasonable price point than real wood flooring planks. This is a dry lay product, meaning installers do not need glue. Just click the pieces together over the existing laminate.
Each plank measures only 5 mm (about 0.2 inches) in thickness. Remove any imperfections from the original laminate floor before laying out the planks, or the imperfections may show through.