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Vinyl Flooring Overlay

| Posted in Construction Techniques on May 18, 2004 03:31am

I am in the process of a kitchen ‘face lift’, meant to last 5 years or so, before I do it ‘right’.  Approximately 12’x10′ kitchen in 1907 traditional.

I am in the process of replacing the floor.  Here is the current profile (bottom to top):  1x rough sawn diagonal plank, 3/4″ oak T&G (split & cracked, no salvage-too bad), 1/4″ plywood (assuming luan), sheet vinyl (early 80s?), vinyl tile (mid 90s?).

Due to money, cold floor issues in the winter, and floor deflection, I am planning on just replacing the vinyl tile with vinyl tile.  The current vinyl tile is coming up okay.  The problem is that I can’t get the sheet vinyl out to get down to the plywood without it delaminating.  It is the kind of old sheet vinyl that has a paper type backing.  The other thing is that the cabinets were put down over the sheet and 1/4″ ply.  The vinyl tile I am taking off has shifted slightly, even though they are pretty tough to get off.

So, once I have a sticky mess after I take off the tile, what can I do to prepare the sheet vinyl for proper adhesion, or should I just apply the new vinyl tile.  I was planning on using the adhesive made for vinyl, but am not sure it will do any good, given the substrate.  I was also considering floor leveling compound.  Any suggestion on brands?  Would it work with the sticky substrate?

What do you think?  Any bad experiences out there?

Yeah, I know I should do it ‘right’, but give me a break!  Thanks for the help everyone!

 

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Replies

  1. steve | May 18, 2004 04:49am | #1

    forget peeling the layers of floor

    tear up the old plywood

    simplest way is to cut it into foot wide strips using a skill saw with the blade set to the right depth ie 1/4 inch plus whatever layers oof flooring there are and rip up using prybars

    cut around the cabinets using a good heavy knife or a sawzall, 1.4 ply is easy to cut

    caulking is not a piece of trim

  2. calvin | May 18, 2004 04:49am | #2

    Another reason one might set cabs, floor up to it.  If you've been around a while, you'll get the idea.

    If finished height is a question, I would see if a jamb saw, sawzall or some other form of destruction would allow me to cut up close to the toe kick.  Set my circular saw to proper depth (vinyl tile, sheet vinyl and underlay, score the rest in squares I could handle and pop the whole mess up at one time.  Cautioning for the probable presence of asbestos and the possibility of friable dust using power tools.  Clean up the underlay nails, add new underlay and go over that.

    Or, underlay what you've got left and go over.  Quick.

    You can find an adhesive to lay new vinyl over sheet goods or old vinyl tile.  One thing, the old needs to be adhered well, all voids filled.  Easy.

    Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.

    Quittin' Time

  3. alwaysoverbudget | May 20, 2004 07:19am | #3

    i'd buy 5 more sheets of laun at 10. each nail it down and lay new tile over it, possibly a sheet good. it will look great, but you will add about a 1/4 height to the floor but it will be good enough to last 5-10 yrs.[ever notice how those "i'm going to do it right in  _____  yrs always doubles or triples before ya get a round to it] larry

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