Carpet-to-Hard-Surface Conversion
The tired wall-to-wall carpet that the whole house is ready to be rid of. The allergy-prone household done with carpet holding dust and dander. The rental or pre-sale where hard-surface floors show better and last longer than carpet ever will. Carpet-to-hard-surface conversion is the full swap done as one project — carpet and pad out, tack strips and staples gone, the subfloor prepped and leveled, a new LVP, laminate, or engineered-wood floor installed, and every doorway transition and baseboard detailed. From $4,500 for a single large room up to $12,000 for a whole main level. One crew, one project, one warranty — no coordinating a tear-out company with a separate flooring installer.
Service
How the Conversion Works
Six sequential steps from carpet tear-out through subfloor leveling, the new hard-surface install, and transition detailing — the full swap as one project.
Tear Out Carpet, Pad, Tack Strip, and Staples
Cut and roll the carpet, pull the pad, pry the tack strips, and pull every staple. Sweep and vacuum the deck. Haul it all away the same day with disposal included.
Inspect and Level the Subfloor
Check the exposed deck with a straightedge for high seams and low spots, screw down squeaks and pops, and skim-level the lows. A hard floor needs a far flatter deck than carpet did, so this is where the time goes.
Moisture Check and Underlayment
Check moisture on slabs and over crawlspaces, lay the right underlayment or vapor management for the chosen floor, and confirm the deck is dry and ready. The underlayment is matched to the product, not a one-size roll.
Install the Hard-Surface Floor
Float, glue, or nail the chosen floor per its spec — staggered seams, a consistent perimeter expansion gap on floating floors, scribed cuts at the walls. Work room to room so the house stays livable where possible.
Detail Transitions and Floor-Height Changes
Set transition strips at every doorway and at the edge into rooms staying carpeted, and handle any height difference between the new floor and adjacent floors so there is no trip edge. Thresholds are fitted, not just dropped in.
Base, Quarter-Round, and Final Walk
Install or reinstall base or quarter-round to cover the expansion gap, caulk where needed, and walk the floor for any movement, clicking, or gaps. Clean up and haul the last of the debris.
Carpet-to-Hard-Surface Conversion Pricing
Final pricing depends on the square footage, the hard-surface floor chosen (LVP, laminate, or engineered wood), how much subfloor leveling and squeak repair the deck needs once the carpet is off, the number of transitions, and whether base is reused or replaced. Carpet tear-out and disposal is included in every conversion. Request a free estimate for an accurate quote.
Tell us the rooms and which hard floor you are considering, and we will quote the conversion with tear-out, prep, and install as one number.
Why Handis for the Conversion
The risk in a carpet-to-hard-surface conversion is the subfloor you cannot see until the carpet is off. Carpet forgives a deck that a hard floor will not — high seams, low spots, squeaks, and pops that the plush hid for years. The installer who quotes the new floor without budgeting for the prep ends up either eating the leveling cost or laying a hard floor that rocks and gaps. We scope the conversion knowing the prep is part of it, name the leveling add up front if the deck is rough, and do the prep right so the new floor lies flat and quiet.
Estimate
List the rooms to convert, the approximate square footage, which hard surface you are leaning toward (LVP, laminate, engineered wood, or not sure), and whether the rooms are over a slab, a crawlspace, or a basement. Photos of the current carpet and any known squeaks help. We will quote the conversion as one number with tear-out, prep, install, and transitions included.
Customer Reviews
Recent carpet-to-hard-surface conversion reviews from verified Handis customers.
Converted our whole main level from old carpet to rigid-core LVP. One crew did the tear-out, found and fixed a few squeaks once the carpet was off, leveled a low spot, and laid the floor. Transitions at every doorway are clean. No coordinating two companies — one project, one warranty.
We are an allergy household and wanted the carpet gone. They walked us through LVP versus laminate versus engineered, recommended LVP for our slab, and did the conversion in three days. The difference in the air is real. Honest about which floor fit our subfloor.
Once the carpet came up the deck had more squeaks than expected. They showed me, quoted the leveling add before continuing, and screwed everything down before the floor went on. The new laminate is dead quiet. Appreciated being shown the subfloor, not surprised by it.
Pre-sale conversion of the bedrooms and hall to engineered hardwood. Beautiful work, real-wood transitions, and the acclimation was done right so nothing has moved. The house showed far better with hard floors. Came in at the quote.
Single big living room from carpet to LVP. Subfloor leveled, plank laid with a clean expansion gap, base reinstalled. Looks like it was always a hard floor. Quick and tidy for one room.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Handis carpet-to-hard-surface conversion.