D-I-Y Linoleum (Forbo) Tiles - Should we?

17 years ago

At one time I think a person experienced with linoleum installation was posting here, but now I can't find the posts. I hope he/she, as well as anyone else familiar with installing linoleum will chime in here and give us some advice.

We have a small (~160 ft2) and fairly regularly shaped spaced space which currently has vinyl flooring that is in pretty good shape. We want to cover this with Forbo Marmoleum, preferably the tiles rather than the sheet product. We received a bid from a flooring company, but with all their fees and taxes the installation portion of the bid was over $1200, even for the sheet product. We think we ought to be able to glue the stuff down ourselves, particularly the tiles, which are smaller and easier to handle than the sheets. We don't have experience with installing sheet flooring, but we are pretty handy and have done many other projects, including laminate countertops, ourselves.

Would we be wise to tackle this project? What should we know before we start (that isn't mentioned in Forbo's online installation instruction manual?)

And finally, the flooring dealer planned to swipe a coat of cement-based flooring compound over our vinyl floor and glue the new linoleum to that. Should we glue the linoleum to the vinyl floor, or should we make an effort to tear the old vinyl off (it is not coming up on its own)? Is smearing the cement-based compound over the vinyl necessary? Could we sand the vinyl floor to accomplish the same thing?

I appreciate all informed advice!

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Comments (3)

floorman67
17 years ago
If you can prep the subfloor to perfection and follow the manufacturers installation instructions perfectly, then you may be able to successfully install the flooring.

If your existing flooring is very secure then it can be installed over.

The swiping you are talking about is to coat the existing embossed surface using a cement based patching compound or embossing leveler. After that it needs to be scraped down smooth or sanded smooth. Re-apply patch as needed ion any spots missed. If you run your hand over the floor it needs to be perfectly smooth.

Surface preparation is paramount to a good job and it needs to be as smooth as a sheet of glass or it may telegrpah any floor imperfection and debond in extreme cases on height intolerance or gouges or high spots.

That said, proper resilient isntallation can not be taught on an internet forum. Installation craftsmen spend many years time and money perfecting their craft, learning, and some take certification courses to be Forbo Certified Master Mechanics, and in those, they learn the ins an out and complexities. Also site awareness is an issue. If something comes up on the job they know by experience how to handle it. It simply is not possible to list every situational varable to consider.
newgeneral
Original Author
17 years ago
Thanks, Floorman. I have studied the installation instructions at Forbo.com, and am pretty confident we can handle this job if we stick to the tiles. I noticed that Forbo does not recommend that we coat the entire vinyl surface with cement-based floor compound due to the risk that the thin layer of compound could, I think, crack or debond and cause problems with the tile adherance. The existing vinyl surface is in good shape and not heavily textured. I would prefer to give the whole surface a quick sanding and use the floor compound only where imperfections need to be repaired. What do you think?

(I've got no argument with the justification for having skilled installers for many/most jobs, and certainly for the sheet goods. But this is not a complex project. We've done tile and formica before. I think we can handle this.?
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floorman67
17 years ago
I have no idea if the embossing will telegraph through.

It certainly can telegraph through, but will it is a shot in the dark. I guess it all depends on your willingness to gamble and what youa re willing to accept in terms of looks.

I would recommend one of the following.

Clad over it with an approved flooring grade underlayment if the existing is down solid and tight.

If height is a consideration, you can remove the existing resilient and any layer of flooring grade underlayment that may exist, then install another layer of flooring grade underlayment.

An experienced resilient mechanic/estimator would make that determination on-site after seeing it for themselves and discusssing of the customers specific and area needs.

PS - if your existing resilient is a cushion backed product it need to come out anyways.

D-I-Y Linoleum (Forbo) Tiles - Should we?

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floorman67

newgeneral
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D-I-Y Linoleum (Forbo) Tiles - Should we?

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newgeneral
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