I'm trying to figure out a temporary waterproof flooring solution for a carpeted bedroom that measures about 10x11 feet. We've initially attempted to use pond liner, but it didn't hold up when we tried stapling it to the carpet tack strips around the edges—it just shifts and bunches up. I'm considering building a frame with 2x4s around the perimeter and then securing the pond liner around those boards with screws. We really want to avoid tearing out the carpet and causing damage to the baseboards. Any creative ideas would be greatly appreciated!
4 Answers
Building a frame with 2x4s to hold the liner sounds like a solid plan! Just drape the liner over the edges and use tape, staples, or nails to secure it. That should keep things in place!
Have you thought about just using a big tarp? It could be an easy and quick solution! Just curious, what exactly are you trying to protect from?
Instead of staples, try using tape to secure the liner. You can fold the corners and tape them together, which could hold better. This method is kind of similar to how they set up floors for grow tents. Might be more reliable than stapling!
You might want to consider removing the carpet and installing luxury vinyl plank (LVP) flooring instead—it’s pretty easy to lay down in a rectangular space. But if you're set on using pond liner, you could just leave it laid out and secure it with 2x2s along the edges, fastening them into the subfloor with trim screws. This won't damage the carpet too much. Caulking the seam with some clear silicone could give you extra waterproofing too! Just a tip: explaining why you need the waterproofing might save you from some wild speculations about your carpet adventures!
Just trying to stay ahead of potential spills—better safe than sorry!