When planning repairs in an apartment, owners often look for ways to save. Is it possible to lay a laminate on linoleum? To answer the question, you need to figure out what the consequences will be as a result of laying the laminate on the old linoleum:
- how the old coating under the laminate behaves;
- how the old base will affect the service life of the lamellas;
- whether there will be problems with the lock connections of individual boards.
It must be remembered that linoleum is a rolled material with a synthetic wear-resistant coating and a felt base that carries the functions of insulation and sound absorption.
Linoleum does not lose its consumer properties if lamellas are laid on top of it, but unpleasant situations can arise during the operation of such a puff structure. So, for example, given that the vinyl coating of linoleum does not allow moisture to pass, if water gets into the lower part of the “pie”, foci of decay may occur, mold and fungus may appear.
We will analyze situations when it is possible to lay a laminate on linoleum, and when not.
When to lay a laminate on linoleum you can
To determine whether it is possible to lay a laminate on linoleum, you need to know the basic requirements for the installation of a base for this type of flooring. In order for the laminate to serve the due time, the following conditions must be observed:
- the moisture content of the base under the laminate should not be higher than 2%;
- deviations in the height of the screed should not be more than 2 mm within one square meter. Minor deviations are eliminated by the substrate. If linoleum acts as the basis, its surface must also meet these requirements. In some cases, it is permissible to use a substrate to level the linoleum base, but this method of eliminating differences in height is only suitable if the linoleum does not have felt insulation. Otherwise, an excessively soft base will cause a break in the lamella locks;
- when checking the base under the laminate, the surface slope is taken into account. This indicator should not be more than 4 mm for every 2000 mm along the length of the room. To determine whether the base surface is suitable for the stated requirements, use a long rule with a horizontal level. You need to check even the most even, at first glance, surfaces.
In cases where all of the above requirements are met and no limit deviations are found, it is possible to lay a laminate on linoleum.
No code
Is it possible to lay a laminate on linoleum if there is damage on the latter? If these are small holes that do not have a noticeable effect on the vertical drop of the base, then such damage is not critical. But if through holes, deep cuts, bubbles are found on the surface of the coating, you will have to abandon the idea of saving on standard preparation of the base for the laminate.
Also, linoleum should not be used as the basis for a laminate if detachment of warming felt is detected.
Solution Benefits
The use of old linoleum as the basis for flooring lamellas has the following advantages:
- repair time in the apartment is noticeably reduced. The new floor is laid on the old base, which allows you to bypass the preparatory process of leveling the surface;
- old coating allows you to save on the purchase of a substrate;
- the base in the form of old linoleum gives a tangible effect of heat saving in the room. A vinyl coating with felt insulation is a better barrier to cold air than conventional types of substrates;
- one of the disadvantages of the laminate is low sound insulation, eliminated if the old linoleum is used as the basis;
- laminate boards that do not tolerate the effects of high humidity, get another layer of waterproofing.
Disadvantages
The disadvantages of using linoleum as a basis for a laminate include:
- in old apartments, linoleum coating can behave unpredictably (in new buildings there is no such problem). Over time, blisters, waves, other deformations may appear on the coating surface, which leads to breakage of the lamella locks;
- if water falls under linoleum covered with a laminate, its evaporation occurs very slowly. On the one hand, this is good in terms of board preservation, but at the same time, foci of rot begin to appear in the felt insulation of the laminate, mold appears, and fungus develops. As a result, you have to change all the flooring;
- according to the masters, some types of linoleum quickly lose their original properties under the laminate. The vinyl layer dries, becomes cracked and breaks, which, again, leads to the need to replace the base with a laminate.
Necessary materials and tools
In order to begin independent laying of the laminate on the linoleum base, you will need to purchase the following materials:
- laminate boards (it will be right to immediately buy the entire amount of material from one factory batch so that there are no differences in color tone);
- wedges to provide clearance between the wall and the first row of the laminate;
- cork substrate with a thickness of 2 mm, if linoleum without insulation.
The wizard will need the following tools:
- measuring tape, at least 5 m long;
- mallet or rubber mallet;
- pencil;
- nail clipper. It will help to lay the last row of the laminate;
- level is horizontal;
- as a rule, not less than 2500 mm long;
- cutting tool. To saw lamellas, you need to choose a tool with a small tooth. A hacksaw for metal, an ordinary hacksaw with the smallest tooth, an electric jigsaw will do. Some craftsmen are used to working with laminate with an angle grinder.
Preparatory work
The convenience of laying lamellas on linoleum is at a minimum cost for preparing the base. Let's consider these works step by step:
- Furniture is taken out of the room, freeing up the flooring for inspection.
- Dismantled skirting boards.
- The surface is checked for integrity. It is important to identify differences in height that exceed permissible values. The moisture level is also estimated based on.
- Large dirt and dust are removed with a vacuum cleaner, and then wet cleaning is carried out.
To check the surface deviations in height, use the horizontal level. To increase the length of the measurement, it is recommended to set the level on the rule and move them together along the entire length of the room. The results obtained are verified with the maximum possible difference of 2 mm per square meter.
If differences exceeding 2 mm are detected, linoleum is dismantled, and the screed is leveled with special mixtures. If numerous drops with maximum values are found, linoleum will have to be dismantled completely and the base prepared for the laminate according to classical technology.
In addition to deviations in height, you need to check the level of the slope of the floor surface. To do this, use the level. If there is no tool, you can use the means at hand: a cord is stretched diagonally at the same level from the floor. Using the level, the presence of a slope is checked, and its value can be measured with a building angle.
To eliminate problems in the further operation of the laminate, the linoleum base should be repaired. Damage can be repaired as follows:
- so that the edges of a small incision do not bulge, they are glued with polymer adhesives to the base or attached to double-sided tape;
- large pieces of damaged linoleum are cut out, and a patch of the same thickness material is glued in their place;
- large cuts, crevices and holes are glued by cold welding. A feature of the vinyl coating is that when exposed to cold welding, it liquefies, after which the polymerization process takes place. As a result, a strong and dense seam is formed in the problem area;
- often in the old linoleum coating you can find swollen waves. To get rid of them, you need to cut the problem area at the highest point along the wave, and then glue both edges with polymer glue to the base.
To check the moisture level on the surface of the old flooring, use a regular plastic film. A piece of 1000 by 1000 mm is cut from the film and glued to the surface of linoleum with tape for 24 hours, after which the film is checked. If there is moisture on it, it is necessary to carefully ventilate the room.
When preparing the base for laying the laminate, some masters recommend that the linoleum be completely glued, but this method is not rational for the following reasons:
- the cost of work and materials when gluing linoleum to the base is equal to the cost of the same work on flooring a new substrate;
- there is no need for a fully static position of linoleum;
- when carrying out repairs with flooring, you will have to completely dismantle linoleum and lay a new substrate, which will affect the overall estimate.
DIY instructions
Consider a step-by-step algorithm for laying a laminate on its own on a linoleum base:
- Before starting work, packages with boards are brought into the room, opened and allowed to acclimatize the material within 24 hours.
- Choose the method of laying boards (along the room, across, with a herringbone). Read more about these options here.
- Based on the installation method, the location of the first row is determined. We also offer separate material on the topic.
- Before installation, wedges are inserted between the wall and the first row of lamellas, which are designed to provide a temperature gap. Subsequently, such wedges are placed at the end of each row and at the final row along the wall.
- Before laying, spikes are removed from the boards of the first row. It is on this side that the lamellas are laid against the wall. Miter rallying of the boards is provided with a rubber mallet.
- The second row is laid with dressing of seams, as in masonry, for this the first board is cut into a third or half. Each next row also comes with dressing of the joints, there should not be a coincidence of the miter joints. It is possible to beat boards only with a rubber mallet through a bar with a comb.
- Boards of the last row are filed in width, taking into account the compensation clearance from the wall. To unite the finish boards use a nail clipper.
The technology of laying the laminate on an ordinary concrete floor was described in detail in this article.
Do I need a backing
After you have decided in which case it is possible and how to lay the laminate on linoleum with your own hands, you need to clarify the last important point - the need to lay the substrate.
When laying a laminate on linoleum, the following rules apply:
- If linoleum has a thick felt base - a substrate is not required. Excessive increase in soft base under the lamellas causes uneven wear. As a result, the lock joints break, you have to completely change the flooring.
- If linoleum without a soft insulation at the bottom, a substrate is required. The best option for alignment would be a cork substrate with a thickness of 2 mm.