Hello everyone,
New guy here looking for help with our kitchen floor. We have sheet vinyl flooring in our kitchen. Actual floor area is 10 1/2 x 11 1/2 of open area, not counting what is under appliances. It is 25 years old and in great shape. (no tears or wear spots, nice finish). Just dated color and pattern. We are readying the house for sale and are considering a brighter, less busy pattern.
Do I have to or should I strip out the current floor or can I simply lay new material over the top? What is best, in your opinions? Similar sheet goods or another type?
Suggestions and tips will be appreciated.
bum
…keep smiling…makes ’em wonder what you’re up to !!
Replies
There are several ways to go.
If you strip the old flooring, the odds are good you will not get all the adhesive and the best (less labor instensive) way to go would be to overlay what's left with a plywood underlayment. To skip the middle step of stripping the old flooring, you can also lay the plywood underlayment over the old flooring; this is done often enough. The main drawback to this is differing transition heights at the perimeter of your floor.
Another option is to just lay the flooring over the existing. Henry makes an embossing leveler for this purpose.
Personally, I always put down an underlayment, usually over the old, unless the old is VCT and are easily removed. It's more work, but the result is a better installation. After the underlayment goes down, be sure to fill the seams and any surface voids/dents with a leveling compound.
"I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul." Invictus, by Henley.
Armstrong Floor Covering Co sells a kit in a 3-foot long plastic tube intended for do-it-yourselfers for about $12 at building supply stores. The detailed instruction booklet recommends not removing old sheet vinyl in good condition that is adhering well. Further, it advises that putting down underlayment (e.g., 1/4 inch plywood) is not necessary. If the old flooring is smoooth, with no texture or decorative embossing in its surface, it is prepared just by thorough washing. If the old floor does have embossing, you also need to apply an embossing leveler, basically a spackling compound made especially to adhere to vinyl flooring. This step is to prevent the three-dimensional embossed pattern of the old floor eventually showing through the new floor. The embossing leveler can usually be sufficiently smoothed with a broad putty knife or trowel, but can also be sanded.
Removing the old floor can cause unnecessary problems: lots of unpleasant work, exposure to old asbestos-laden materials, debris disposal, a more uneven surface, and the need for underlayment that may cause an elevation problem where the new floor transitions to adjacent rooms.
Thanks guys,
You both mentioned embossing leveler and I think I may try that route. As I mentioned, the existing floor is in excellent shape and I would like to avoid the transition change if I can.
bum Jim...keep smiling...makes 'em wonder what you're up to !!