You tell us about seepage, a sump pump, or a musty smell. We look for staining at the base of the drywall.
We run a straightedge across the concrete, find cracks and old adhesive, and mark where self-leveller is needed.
Below grade we fit a moisture-barrier pad, or we glue the carpet direct to the slab when the backing allows it.
We measure the stair run, the door swing, and the floor height next door so every transition strip sits flush.
Carpet does two jobs downstairs. It warms a cold slab under your feet, and it kills the echo that bounces off bare concrete and drywall. We run seams out of the walking path, keep pile direction consistent from the stair landing into the room, and wrap platforms and step-ups in the same carpet so the edges look built rather than patched. Tell us the room size and we will price it.
We measure wall to wall, note the columns and the mechanical door, and ask how you will use the space.
We check moisture, flatness, cracks, and leftover adhesive, then price any self-leveller before you sign.
We haul off the old floor, nail concrete tack strip around the room, and lay the cushion or spread adhesive.
We power stretch each run, bond the seams with a seam iron and seam tape, then finish doorways with transition strips.
Carpet will not stop water. If the slab is damp, the source gets fixed first. We tell you what we see.
A moisture-barrier cushion or a direct glue-down job holds up on concrete far better than a standard rebond pad.
Platforms, stair landings, and the utility room door each need a finished edge. We plan those before we cut.
Reviews shared with us directly by Potomac Carpets customers.
Potomac Carpets did an excellent job from start to finish. The team was professional, punctual, and helped us choose the perfect carpet for our home. The installation looks fantastic!
Great service and quality workmanship. The installers were friendly, efficient, and left everything clean when they finished. I highly recommend Potomac Carpets.
We had a wonderful experience with Potomac Carpets. They offered a great selection, answered all our questions, and completed the installation on time. Our new flooring looks beautiful.
Professional, reliable, and easy to work with. The entire process was smooth, and the finished result exceeded our expectations. We would definitely use Potomac Carpets again.
Basements sit on concrete, and concrete moves water. So we start there. We ask what you have seen: a damp corner after heavy rain, a sump pump that runs often, a musty smell in August. Then we look for ourselves. Staining at the base of the drywall, chalky efflorescence on the slab, and a curling edge on old vinyl all tell us something. If the slab is wet, carpet will not fix it and we will say so. Waterproof flooring suits a utility corner or a room that has taken water before.
We also run a straightedge over the floor. Low spots under carpet feel like soft ground underfoot. We fill them with self-leveller before any cushion goes down.
Below grade, the cushion does more work than the carpet. A moisture-barrier pad keeps spills and slab vapor out of the backing. On some jobs we skip the pad and glue the carpet direct to the concrete, which is the right call under rolling chairs or a bar. Your carpet backing decides what is allowed, and we read the manufacturer sheet before we quote.
Room shape counts too. Basements are full of columns, closets, platforms, and a mechanical room door. Carpet comes off 12 ft and 15 ft rolls, so seam placement and pile direction change how much you buy. Wall-to-wall carpet installation shows how we lay a room out from the roll.
Cutback adhesive, a cracked slab, a rotted sleeper, or a moisture ring under the old pad only shows up once the floor is out. When we find one, we stop, take a photo, and price the extra prep with you. No mystery line items at the end.
Use the carpet and flooring cost calculator for a rough number tonight, then let us measure. Call +1 240 751 5542 or email info@potomaccarpets.com.
Not every one. If the concrete is actively damp or the old adhesive is letting go, that gets corrected first. We can show you what the slab is doing before you spend money on carpet. Carpet laid over a wet floor smells within a year.
Usually yes. We fit a moisture-barrier cushion below grade, or we glue the carpet straight to the slab with no pad at all. The carpet backing and the way you use the room decide which one you get.
Yes. We use concrete tack strip with hardened nails and add adhesive where the slab is soft or crumbling. That perimeter holds your stretch for years, so we do not rush it.
Cracks, low spots, cutback adhesive, and moisture rings only appear after removal. We stop, photograph it, and price the extra prep with you before we carry on.