Installing Linoleum Flooring
From Floor Coverings
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How to install Linoleum Flooring
Is linoleum flooring eco-friendly flooring?
Linoleum is a strong, beautiful, eco-friendly choice for flooring, suitable for just about every room in the house. Although it is a flooring material with many benefits, such as anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and hypo-allergenic, resilient and durable, it is not necessarily the easiest flooring to install. This is especially true if you are installing sheet linoleum, because it is heavy and bulky and can be difficult to maneuver. There are basically three types of linoleum: sheet, tile and click-n-lock. Sheet linoleum and tile linoleum will be secured to the sub-floor with an adhesive and click-n-lock linoleum is a floating floor with panels that click into place and “float” above the floor surface without actually being secured to it. Each of these types will require a slightly different installation method.
What type of sub floor do I need to install linoleum flooring?
However, with all three types of linoleum flooring, preparation of the sub-floor is the same procedure. The sub-floor must be sound structurally and level. If sub-floor boards are loose or rotten, they must be secured or replaced. If your sub-floor is concrete, cracks must be filled and low places must be leveled with a leveling compound. If there is drywall mud or paint overspray, these areas must be scraped and cleaned. High spots must be sanded smooth and level. In addition, moisture tests must be performed on concrete to ensure that the linoleum does not get ruined or bubble up. A good quality moisture barrier plastic sheet will be needed for linoleum flooring installed over concrete.
Do I need an underlayment for my linoleum floor?
All sub-floors types must be clean and dry. If you need to add stability to the sub-floor, choose a service grade hardboard plywood to underlay an unstable floor. Foam underlayments will be placed between linoleum and the sub-floor, leaving a 1/8 inch perimeter to allow for expansion. Lay in strips and staple seams together, making sure that the seams are at least 12 inches away from the sub-floor seams. Wait 24 hours before installing the linoleum Like many other flooring types, linoleum flooring needs to be acclimated to the room environment for 2 days prior to installation. But, do not allow it to acclimate in the direct sunlight, as linoleum tends to fade easily. Then, it is time to prepare the room for installation. Start by clearing the room of all furniture, base moldings and doors.
Do I need a expansion gap for installing my floor?
You may also wish to undercut door casings and remove toilets if the bathroom is your target room. Sweep the room again and make sure it is dry before beginning installation. It is a good idea to wear gloves and have proper ventilation if you will be handling full spread adhesives. Before cutting, take a moment and read the manufacturers guidelines with reference to expansion rate and seam widths for your particular brand of linoleum. You will need to take these factors into consideration when you begin cutting. Linoleum has a tendency to expand in width and shrink in length, so you will want to allow for these spacing changes when cutting and placing.
Can I install linoleum flooring on my own?
When it is time to cut, then you can unroll your sheet linoleum, otherwise leave it rolled up. For obvious reasons, click-n-lock types will be much easier to install. Linoleum tiles will be a little more difficult, since you must use the adhesive and apply pressure with a rolling pin to each tile. For sheet and tile linoleum, you will need scissors, chalk-line, adhesive, masking tape, a utility knife, pencil, rolling pin and a staple gun. For click-n-lock linoleum, you will need a hammer, handsaw, jigsaw, tapping block and a pry bar. For click-n-lock, simply start on the edge of the room and click together the tiles into place, leaving the designated expansion space at the edge of the walls. Tap the pieces with a tapping block to make sure they are in place. Much of the procedure for tiles is the same as for click-n-lock, except you will use adhesive instead of clicking together. Sheet linoleum will need to be cut in wide strips and adhesive applied to the backing before being laid. Measure carefully and mark with a chalk-line to ensure correct placement. When you get to the inside corners, cut the linoleum in a V shape, so that the corners will lay flat. Sheet linoleum will also need to be gone over with a rolling pin to seal seams and smooth out the adhesive.
