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Floor vinyl over vinyl

FastEddie | Posted in Construction Techniques on September 13, 2005 09:01am

Working on a proposal for a custoimer.  She went to a floor store and saw a display for Manningtom Adura vinyl tile.  It is 16″ square, very thick tile that retails for about $4.50/sf and she likes it.  The current flor is sheet vinyl that isn old but in pretty good condition, except where they tore it moving the fridge.  The house is old (1950’s) on pier & beam.  Most of the house is wood flooring.  I don’t know what’s under the existing vinyl.

The saleslady at the floor store said that I should either pull the old sheet vinyl and install 1/2″ underlayment ply, tape the seams, etc.  Or, he preferred way, would be to skim coat the existing vinyl with a latex material, then lay the new vct.

My experience with vct is limited.  Need some cheap advice.

 

 

“When asked if you can do something, tell’em “Why certainly I can”, then get busy and find a way to do it.”  T. Roosevelt

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Replies

  1. rez | Sep 16, 2005 02:46am | #1

    bump

     

    sleeps till noon but before it's dark...


     

    1. Mitremike | Sep 16, 2005 08:44am | #3

      Nicely done Rez--Another bump another day---Mike" I reject your reality and substitute my own"
      Adam Savage---Mythbusters

      1. rez | Sep 16, 2005 07:55pm | #6

        Thanks, you available for the draft? :o)

        be no post left unanswered

         

        sleeps till noon but before it's dark...

         

        1. Mitremike | Sep 17, 2005 02:36am | #7

          Are you kidding--come in after the master?I need about 5000 more post before I am qualified---Mike" I reject your reality and substitute my own"
          Adam Savage---Mythbusters

  2. User avater
    JeffBuck | Sep 16, 2005 05:09am | #2

    does the existing have an embossed pattern?

    I'd say they got the "preferred way" mixed up.

    preferred would be pull the existing and lay a new subfloor.

     

    but ... a skim coat of leveler can be used to fill the "embossed" ... then a layover is possible w/o it telegraphing thru.

    btw ... 1/2 underlay is overkill. 1/4 exterior luan is the way to go. Gotta find the right stuff ... we now have 2 kinds of luan ... cheaper and lighter stuff is sold for interior ... and has voids in the plys ... the exterior stuff we can get is like the old stuff ... no voids. It's the not the interior/exterior that matters in this application ... it's the hidden voids that'll bite ya. Get the real stuff.

    Jeff

        Buck Construction

     Artistry In Carpentry

         Pittsburgh Pa

  3. DonCanDo | Sep 16, 2005 03:18pm | #4

    "The current flor is sheet vinyl that isn old but in pretty good condition"

    By "good condition", do you mean well-adhered?  If the old floor is well-adhered everywhere, I would just repair any small damaged areas (dash-patch, or another piece of same-thickness vinyl), use a leveler if there's an embossed pattern and go right over it.

    Another option is 1/4" luan right over what's there now.  A crown stapler is probably the easiest way to adhere the luan.  But I will confess that I haven't used one.  On the last job I did like this, I used nails every 6" and patched the heads.  It took waaayyyy too long.

    Taping the seams will accomplish nothing.  It won't prevent movement and it becomes one more thing to telegraph through.  But that does remind me, if you put down luan, try to have all of the seams on a joist.

    -Don

    1. FastEddie | Sep 16, 2005 04:34pm | #5

      The local floor store had nothing to offer exzcept the sales literature and a very condescending saleswoman.  Kinda pi$$ed me off listening to her.

      Checked the Msannington site, could not find any installation instructions.  Called their toll free number and the woman emailed a copy right away.  Good service.  Here's what it says under subfloor:  "To achieve maximum product performance, Adura should not be installed over existing resiliant flor coverings.  (That part is in bold print.)  In the rare case where removal ... is not an option ... cover with Mannington MVP-203 latex underlayment ..."

      So I'll either demo the old vinyl or overlay it with 1/4" luan.  Either way, does the luan get glued down?  And would a narrow crown stapler work?  I know Jeff will recommend a box of roofing nails ...

        

      "When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it."  T. Roosevelt

      1. jrnbj | Sep 17, 2005 06:44am | #8

        glue the luan down w/ thin layer (small notch trowel) of mastic, and staple w/narrow crown stapler (under $100 these days at the Big Orange).....cordless saw is nice to cut the luan.....have fun....

      2. DanT | Sep 17, 2005 05:06pm | #9

        This is a common deal for us.  We use BC ply, 1/4", as most vinyl companies call for is saying the mahogany die in the luan ply may bleed and discolor the vinyl.  But for the product you are describing I would say luan is fine.  We don't glue it, just staple every 8" and then install the new floor.  DanT

        1. FastEddie | Sep 17, 2005 07:57pm | #10

          Narrow crown staples 1" long?

            

          "When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it."  T. Roosevelt

          1. Isamemon | Sep 17, 2005 11:32pm | #11

            another thought

            that old of a house, might be asbestos

            if so, dont think of pulling

            asbestos dust isnt good

            ( at least I dont pull it ANYMORE)

            you might be in Minnesota,( or wherever) and  yes it is known to cause cancer in California

            just cause  your not in CA, still does not mean its safe in Minnesota

            just cover it as the guys above have said

            another thought

            a good friend of mine works at a major floor shop in town, if they suspect asbestos, they dont say a thing other then tell the owner to find someone to prep the floor or do it themselves

            they dont even recomend anyone, again , if they suspect asbestos

            otherwise they would be more then happy to bill you for the extra work, disposal fees etc.

            of course its always

            were too busy, or you can save money by..........................

            Edited 9/17/2005 4:37 pm ET by Isamemon

          2. DanT | Sep 18, 2005 03:03am | #12

            No, we use an air stapler that shoots 7/16" crown staples and generally use 1 1/4" staples.  Most guys in our area do use narrow crown we use the wider because the stapler can be used with up to 2" staples for other projects as well.  DanT

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