Q&A for How to Install Linoleum Flooring

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  • Question
    How do you make sure your flooring is straight?
    Crystal Chadwick
    Licensed General Contractor
    Crystal Chadwick is a Licensed General Contractor and the Owner of Yin & Yang Construction out of Salt Lake City, Utah. With over 16 years of experience in the construction industry, she specializes in remodels, repairs, and handyman services. Crystal leads her team with vision and a detail-oriented approach, allowing them to provide quality work and design to their clients.
    Licensed General Contractor
    Expert Answer
    Lay out your sheets of linoleum before applying any glue. This way, you can decide how you'd like your pattern to lay and make sure it fits appropriately.
  • Question
    What I should I do if there are any cracks or gaps in the subfloor?
    Crystal Chadwick
    Licensed General Contractor
    Crystal Chadwick is a Licensed General Contractor and the Owner of Yin & Yang Construction out of Salt Lake City, Utah. With over 16 years of experience in the construction industry, she specializes in remodels, repairs, and handyman services. Crystal leads her team with vision and a detail-oriented approach, allowing them to provide quality work and design to their clients.
    Licensed General Contractor
    Expert Answer
    You should fill in any cracks and gaps with wood filler before you lay down the linoleum flooring.
  • Question
    What is the best underlayment for linoleum?
    Crystal Chadwick
    Licensed General Contractor
    Crystal Chadwick is a Licensed General Contractor and the Owner of Yin & Yang Construction out of Salt Lake City, Utah. With over 16 years of experience in the construction industry, she specializes in remodels, repairs, and handyman services. Crystal leads her team with vision and a detail-oriented approach, allowing them to provide quality work and design to their clients.
    Licensed General Contractor
    Expert Answer
    OSB (Oriented Strand Board) is the best subfloor material for a linoleum flooring. Remember to always make sure your subfloor is smooth and level.
  • Question
    How do you apply linoleum adhesive?
    Crystal Chadwick
    Licensed General Contractor
    Crystal Chadwick is a Licensed General Contractor and the Owner of Yin & Yang Construction out of Salt Lake City, Utah. With over 16 years of experience in the construction industry, she specializes in remodels, repairs, and handyman services. Crystal leads her team with vision and a detail-oriented approach, allowing them to provide quality work and design to their clients.
    Licensed General Contractor
    Expert Answer
    You should apply the linoleum adhesive with a small notched trowel and lay the linoleum on top of it. Make sure you lay the linoleum up the walls a few inches before setting on the glue, since it's hard to move after laying it down.
  • Question
    How can I get wrinkles out of stored, leftover linoleum?
    Community Answer
    Apply heat, such as ironing it over a thick towel, bit by bit. After softening, add weight (such as heavy books or boxes filled with books, etc.) to keep it smooth overnight, the day before using it. The wrinkles should have gone by the time you're ready to use it.
  • Question
    Can vinyl linoleum be installed over a floating laminated flooring?
    Community Answer
    No, you cannot install vinyl linoleum over a floating laminated flooring. You need a stable subfloor that will not move or float.
  • Question
    Can linoleum flooring go bad if it is too old?
    Community Answer
    It can and probably will get worn and dirty after a while. After too long, it may start to deteriorate. If you have linoleum flooring you think is old, check on when it was made and the safety standards; if it is very old, it could have been made with something that's not safe now.
  • Question
    My bathtub isn't straight. How do I make it look straight and keep the design of the linoleum straight?
    Community Answer
    Cut the linoleum to fit the crooked tub and line up the tiles as best you can.
  • Question
    Can I glue linoleum to a painted plywood floor?
    Community Answer
    I'd definitely suggest against it. Sand the paint off first, or at least sand it with a rough grit so it's not as smooth.
  • Question
    Can I put vinyl over indoor/outdoor carpet?
    Community Answer
    You don't want to; the vinyl will never stay flat. Your floor will be squishy to walk on, and will buckle and pull away from the walls on the edges. Carpet is only installed with staples - it's really easy to pull out, and definitely worth it if you want to put in a different style of flooring.
  • Question
    Can I install sheet linoleum on top of laminate flooring?
    Mark Baker
    Community Answer
    If you're talking about actual linoleum, not vinyl, then it's possible provided the laminate is in good shape, stable, not a floating laminate, and is completely flat (as in no bumps, no texture). Linoleum will telegraph, so any bumps will show through, if not right away then about a month later.
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