Carpet-to-hardwood conversion Guide for Metro Atlanta Homeowners

What's actually involved

The crew removes the existing carpet and pad, inspects the subfloor for moisture damage or squeaks, installs a new underlayment, and lays the new hardwood, engineered hardwood, or LVP flooring with matching transitions at doorways and stairs. Permits are typically not required for a like-for-like flooring swap.

Atlanta-area specifics worth flagging

Alpharetta, Johns Creek, and other subdivisions are usually the cleanest, fastest scopes in the region, plywood subfloors over slab or joists, ready for new material with minimal prep. Historic intown bungalows in Inman Park, Virginia-Highland, Kirkwood, Grant Park, Cascade Heights, and Old Fourth Ward more often have plank subfloors, uneven joists, and prior moisture damage worth scoping carefully. Most south-metro and newer subdivision homes are slab-on-grade, so any subfloor leveling means grinding or self-leveling compound on the slab itself.

• Plank subfloor vs. plywood subfloor (affects demo time)
• Self-leveling compound needed on uneven slab-on-grade homes (cost adder)
• Moisture barrier install, inadequate vapor barriers common in older Atlanta stock
• Subfloor moisture damage from prior carpet or appliance leaks
• HOA / architectural-review approval (Peachtree City, Milton, Johns Creek, master-planned subdivisions)
• Condo HOA approval and elevator scheduling (Midtown, Buckhead, Brookhaven, Dunwoody)
• Transition strip choice at existing tile or hardwood boundaries