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Saving existing linoleum?

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Saving existing linoleum? Mail Man Bob 07-30-2007
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Posted by Mail Man Bob on July 30, 2007, 10:44 pm
We're pulling out old cabinets in the kitchen and installing new one.
Mostly they will have the same footprint, but there is one area where the
subfloor will be exposed. There's another area where the existing linoleum
will be covered up. I'm thinking about pulling up the linoleum in that area
and piecing it over the exposed area. The pattern lends itself to this and
should look fine.

Question is... the linoleum was put down about 10 years ago and I don't know
if it will come up easily or not. If it does, no big deal. But if not, and
it's glued down, can anyone suggest a way to try and peel it up?

Thanks.

Bob



Real Goods Solar, Inc.
Posted by Lew Hodgett on July 30, 2007, 11:00 pm
RE: Subject

You don't even want to think about going there.

Leave the old floor as is, lay 1/4 ply over it, then lay a new floor.

If you have access to a seam roller, a seamless job is not that difficult.

Lew

Posted by DanG on July 30, 2007, 11:12 pm
Sheet vinyl is often installed with a full glue coverage. Most
floor adhesives respond to heat. If you don't have a heat gun,
the wife might have a hair dryer - just don't let her see you
using it. If it doesn't work, you are no farther behind.

--
______________________________
Keep the whole world singing . . . .
DanG (remove the sevens)
dgriff237@7cox.net



> We're pulling out old cabinets in the kitchen and installing new
> one.
> Mostly they will have the same footprint, but there is one area
> where the
> subfloor will be exposed. There's another area where the
> existing linoleum
> will be covered up. I'm thinking about pulling up the linoleum
> in that area
> and piecing it over the exposed area. The pattern lends itself
> to this and
> should look fine.
>
> Question is... the linoleum was put down about 10 years ago and
> I don't know
> if it will come up easily or not. If it does, no big deal. But
> if not, and
> it's glued down, can anyone suggest a way to try and peel it up?
>
> Thanks.
>
> Bob
>
>



Posted by Mail Man Bob on July 31, 2007, 12:12 am
Much obliged, DanG. I do have a heat gun so, I'll give it try. Won't hurt
anything unless I burn down the house and, heck, we need a new house
anyways.

> Sheet vinyl is often installed with a full glue coverage. Most
> floor adhesives respond to heat. If you don't have a heat gun,
> the wife might have a hair dryer - just don't let her see you
> using it. If it doesn't work, you are no farther behind.
>
> --
> ______________________________
> Keep the whole world singing . . . .
> DanG (remove the sevens)
> dgriff237@7cox.net
>
>
>
> > We're pulling out old cabinets in the kitchen and installing new
> > one.
> > Mostly they will have the same footprint, but there is one area
> > where the
> > subfloor will be exposed. There's another area where the
> > existing linoleum
> > will be covered up. I'm thinking about pulling up the linoleum
> > in that area
> > and piecing it over the exposed area. The pattern lends itself
> > to this and
> > should look fine.
> >
> > Question is... the linoleum was put down about 10 years ago and
> > I don't know
> > if it will come up easily or not. If it does, no big deal. But
> > if not, and
> > it's glued down, can anyone suggest a way to try and peel it up?
> >
> > Thanks.
> >
> > Bob
> >
> >
>
>



Posted by on July 31, 2007, 4:21 am

>Much obliged, DanG. I do have a heat gun so, I'll give it try. Won't hurt
>anything unless I burn down the house and, heck, we need a new house
>anyways.
>

If it's glued, and it probably is, you are in for a tough job. I
agree with others that a new floor is the way to go. However, I have
lived during tough times and know that it's not always possible to
afford things like that. Anyhow, take it easy with the heat gun or
you can char the surface. Some adhesives are water soluable too, and
soaking with wet sponges will help. Another thing you could do is to
make a border around the cabinets. Maybe a row of 12" tiles of a
contrasting color around all the cabinets. You can carefully cut a
12" border into the lino, remove it, and install the tiles. If the
tiles are thinner, glue down some felt paper with the flooring
adhesive in layers till you get the desired thickness. I worked for a
flooring company several years ago. There are all kinds of tricks if
you know what to do. One other thing, an electric iron might help
too. Try to find a spot where you dont need to save the lino and
experiment with heat gun, iron, steam (from iron) and soaking. For
soaking, water will only get under the edge, it wont penetrate the
lino. By the way, what you have is vinyl. They have not made
linoleum in many years, but we all still call it linoleum....

If you have a way to post a photo of the lino and the adhesive, I may
be able to tell you a little more. The backing on the vinyl matters
too. The white foam type tends to peel, whereas the gray asbestos
backing is a little more forgiving. And by the way, lets not get into
an asbestos panic discussion. It's suspended and is harmless unless
you grind it or saw through it, and turn it into dust. The old burlap
(actual linoleum) was actually the easiest to remove without damage,
but you dont have that if its 10 years old.


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