Difference between revisions of "Install Linoleum Flooring"
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== Steps == | == Steps == | ||
=== Preparing Your Floor for Installation === | === Preparing Your Floor for Installation === | ||
| − | #Acclimate your linoleum to the room. Linoleum and its synthetic alternatives are soft, pliable, and flexible when compared to most other flooring materials. In fact, they're so flexible that they will actually shrink and expand ever-so-slightly with changes in temperature.<ref>http://www.ecofriendlyflooring.com/pdfs/linoleum_specs.pdf</ref> Though these changes are imperceptible to the naked eye, they can cause minor issues when it comes to installing and maintaining your floor. Because of this, you'll want to give your linoleum a chance to reach its "resting" size by storing it in the room you intend to use it in for about 24 hours prior to installing it. | + | #Acclimate your linoleum to the room. Linoleum and its synthetic alternatives are soft, pliable, and flexible when compared to most other flooring materials. In fact, they're so flexible that they will actually shrink and expand ever-so-slightly with changes in temperature.<ref name="rf1">http://www.ecofriendlyflooring.com/pdfs/linoleum_specs.pdf</ref> Though these changes are imperceptible to the naked eye, they can cause minor issues when it comes to installing and maintaining your floor. Because of this, you'll want to give your linoleum a chance to reach its "resting" size by storing it in the room you intend to use it in for about 24 hours prior to installing it. |
#Remove any furniture, appliances, and doors. Before beginning the process of laying down your linoleum flooring, you'll want to completely clear your work area from any possible obstructions. For most rooms, this will mean removing any furniture or floor decorations (e.g. rugs, etc.), along with any appliances that are connected to the floor, like toilets or pedestal-style sinks. Finally, you will probably want to remove any doors from their hinges, especially if they open inward, to ensure that you're able to comfortably work all the way to the edge of the room. | #Remove any furniture, appliances, and doors. Before beginning the process of laying down your linoleum flooring, you'll want to completely clear your work area from any possible obstructions. For most rooms, this will mean removing any furniture or floor decorations (e.g. rugs, etc.), along with any appliances that are connected to the floor, like toilets or pedestal-style sinks. Finally, you will probably want to remove any doors from their hinges, especially if they open inward, to ensure that you're able to comfortably work all the way to the edge of the room. | ||
#* When it comes to preparing your work area, be conservative. Spending a little extra time removing items that may not be ''completely'' necessary to remove is almost always a better use of time than halting your work later on to, for instance, uninstall a toilet that's in your way. | #* When it comes to preparing your work area, be conservative. Spending a little extra time removing items that may not be ''completely'' necessary to remove is almost always a better use of time than halting your work later on to, for instance, uninstall a toilet that's in your way. | ||
| − | #Detach any baseboards. Next, remove any baseboards — the small wooden "trim" pieces at the bottom of a wall — that run along the edges of your floor. Usually, this can be accomplished by carefully prying with a pry bar, flat head screwdriver, or sturdy putty knife. To prevent damage to your wall, try inserting a small block of wood behind your prying tool as you work the baseboard away from the wall. This keeps your tool from scratching against the wall and provides additional leverage.<ref>http://www.lowes.com/projects/bed-and-bath/Install-Sheet-Vinyl-Flooring/project</ref> | + | #Detach any baseboards. Next, remove any baseboards — the small wooden "trim" pieces at the bottom of a wall — that run along the edges of your floor. Usually, this can be accomplished by carefully prying with a pry bar, flat head screwdriver, or sturdy putty knife. To prevent damage to your wall, try inserting a small block of wood behind your prying tool as you work the baseboard away from the wall. This keeps your tool from scratching against the wall and provides additional leverage.<ref name="rf2">http://www.lowes.com/projects/bed-and-bath/Install-Sheet-Vinyl-Flooring/project</ref> |
#* While you're working on your baseboards, take the opportunity to also remove any outlet covers that could be damaged by your linoleum flooring installation project. | #* While you're working on your baseboards, take the opportunity to also remove any outlet covers that could be damaged by your linoleum flooring installation project. | ||
#Remove baseboard nails. After you remove your baseboards, quickly examine your bottoms of your walls near the floor to look for any leftover nails sticking out of the wall. Carefully pull these nails out of the wall with a pair of pliers, the "claw" end of a hammer, or a similar prying tool. If left in, these nails can present problems when attempting to lay your linoleum flat against the wall. | #Remove baseboard nails. After you remove your baseboards, quickly examine your bottoms of your walls near the floor to look for any leftover nails sticking out of the wall. Carefully pull these nails out of the wall with a pair of pliers, the "claw" end of a hammer, or a similar prying tool. If left in, these nails can present problems when attempting to lay your linoleum flat against the wall. | ||
| − | #Patch up pre-existing flooring material. Linoleum must be laid over floor that's as close to perfectly smooth and even as possible. If it isn't, the underlying imperfections will eventually be reflected in the linoleum itself, resulting in unsightly bumps, ridges, soft spots, and so on. If you plan to lay your linoleum over the existing floor, check it to make sure that it is level and free of imperfections. If you plan to lay it over the subfloor, remove your existing flooring and check whether the subfloor is in good condition. If your floor or subfloor ''isn't'' completely even and level, you may want to try fixing minor issues with the tips below:<ref | + | #Patch up pre-existing flooring material. Linoleum must be laid over floor that's as close to perfectly smooth and even as possible. If it isn't, the underlying imperfections will eventually be reflected in the linoleum itself, resulting in unsightly bumps, ridges, soft spots, and so on. If you plan to lay your linoleum over the existing floor, check it to make sure that it is level and free of imperfections. If you plan to lay it over the subfloor, remove your existing flooring and check whether the subfloor is in good condition. If your floor or subfloor ''isn't'' completely even and level, you may want to try fixing minor issues with the tips below:<ref name="rf2" /> |
#* Concrete floors: Level high spots with a grinder or masonry chisel. Fill in small holes or cracks with additional concrete. | #* Concrete floors: Level high spots with a grinder or masonry chisel. Fill in small holes or cracks with additional concrete. | ||
#* Wood floors: Use an embossing leveler to fix minor dents and indentations. For more serious issues, use plywood underlayment (see below). | #* Wood floors: Use an embossing leveler to fix minor dents and indentations. For more serious issues, use plywood underlayment (see below). | ||
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#Use an online calculator. Though linoleum and vinyl flooring are fairly cheap compared to flooring options like hardwood and tile, you still won't want to spend any more money on your flooring project than necessary. Figuring out how much linoleum your project calls for beforehand can prevent you from wasting money on excessive flooring material and save you the hassle of having to run back to the hardware store if you don't have enough. For most projects, the easiest way to do this is simply to use an online calculator (like [http://www.wfca.org/Pages/Vinyl-Flooring-Calculator.aspx this one]). | #Use an online calculator. Though linoleum and vinyl flooring are fairly cheap compared to flooring options like hardwood and tile, you still won't want to spend any more money on your flooring project than necessary. Figuring out how much linoleum your project calls for beforehand can prevent you from wasting money on excessive flooring material and save you the hassle of having to run back to the hardware store if you don't have enough. For most projects, the easiest way to do this is simply to use an online calculator (like [http://www.wfca.org/Pages/Vinyl-Flooring-Calculator.aspx this one]). | ||
#* Though online calculators will vary, most (including the one above) simply require you to input the length and width of your floor section (or sections) to receive a total estimate. For floor sections that are square or rectangular, you'll only need one length and width, but for a differently-shaped area of floor, you'll need to divide your square into rectangular sections and find a length and width for each to get an accurate total. | #* Though online calculators will vary, most (including the one above) simply require you to input the length and width of your floor section (or sections) to receive a total estimate. For floor sections that are square or rectangular, you'll only need one length and width, but for a differently-shaped area of floor, you'll need to divide your square into rectangular sections and find a length and width for each to get an accurate total. | ||
| − | #Calculate your amount by hand. You don't ''need'' to use a calculator to figure out how much linoleum you need — it's also pretty easy to find this amount by hand. Use one of the equations below to determine exactly how much linoleum is necessary for your project depending on whether you're buying sheet linoleum by the yard or tiled linoleum.<ref>http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-much-vinyl-flooring-do-you-need.html</ref> Keep in mind that, regardless of the equation you use, your floor area value will be the length of your floor times its width (for each rectangular section of floor). | + | #Calculate your amount by hand. You don't ''need'' to use a calculator to figure out how much linoleum you need — it's also pretty easy to find this amount by hand. Use one of the equations below to determine exactly how much linoleum is necessary for your project depending on whether you're buying sheet linoleum by the yard or tiled linoleum.<ref name="rf3">http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-much-vinyl-flooring-do-you-need.html</ref> Keep in mind that, regardless of the equation you use, your floor area value will be the length of your floor times its width (for each rectangular section of floor). |
#* For sheet linoleum: (Floor area)/9 = # of Square yards of linoleum needed | #* For sheet linoleum: (Floor area)/9 = # of Square yards of linoleum needed | ||
#* For 9-inch tiles: (Floor area)/0.5626 = # of 9-inch linoleum tiles needed | #* For 9-inch tiles: (Floor area)/0.5626 = # of 9-inch linoleum tiles needed | ||
