I don't see why you can't lay some linoleum and tack down the edges where needed.

We are in the middle of some renovating as well. I had to pull up some the kitchen tile leaving exposed sub-flooring. I have one of those braided oval rugs covering the area with my table on the rug. It's been that way for 4 months and will remain that way until next spring. I'm not bothered by it all.... now. :)

A year is really a very short time. If you were able to remove all the glue, could you survive with the old tile for that year?

If that is possible, I suggest trying a water-vinegar wash to try to remove the old glue. When we remodled our old kitchen we used white vinegar (a fairly strong mixture) in the water to remove that glued down to the tar paper stuff. We ripped it back as much as we could first, then let the vinegar stuff set on each section for about 15 min before scrapeing it and rinsing it. We were able to clear it down to the FIR boards that were under all the layers. It turned out beautiful (in a rustic sort of a way.)

Sheet vinyl is definitely the way to go. Just sand down any or chip off any high glue spots and use a self leveling adhesive.

Be aware that your old tile, especially the underlayment may certain asbestos and almost certainly does if the house was built before 76/77. It was banned in 1977 but builders were still using their existing stock. Not a big deal really but be sure to wet down the floor and underlayment before removing and don't use saws or sanders on it when the time comes to remove.

Well this is a flooring material you probably won't think of - Astroturf - or what ever name it goes by these days.

My girlfriend remodeled her house and she couldn't decide on a floor. She also owned 2 large mastiffs and was worried their nails would scratch the wood or vinyl tile. She didn't want ceramic in her kitchen because she had 2 toddlers and was worried about the possibility that one would fall and hurt himself on the ceramic floor. Her contractor suggested Astroturf. His wife was a hairdresser and he had installed it in her shop a few years earlier. The 'grass' is short so it's easy to vacuum and mop.

My girlfriend's kitchen was black and white so she opted for a black floor. Initially she thought she'd only leave it down until the kids got older. She kept it about 7 years and never regretted it.

I don't know what the cost is but they simply glued it to the sub floor.

Maire

Moonie 57 - I'm so glad to be rid of the old carpet I'd be thrilled with anything that's washable.

I'd be happy to tack down 1/4-inch plywood over the glue-encrusted tile, paint it, seal it, and get on with life. Wes thinks that's a horrible idea.

I have picked out an Armstrong sheet vinyl that's on sale for 79 cents a square foot. I don't think I'm going to beat that price.

It's a loose lay, too; it doesn't require any gluing.

HayJud - I'm trying the vinegar soak right now. I washed a two-square-foot spot, poured the vinegar on it, and then covered it with Saran Wrap so it could soak without evaporating.

This is some heavy-duty industrial glue but if it can come off relatively painlessly, I'm all for just using the old tiles that are there. I don't care what color they are, either. I think they're grey with various colored "speckles" from what I can see through the glue.

WildChild - The asbestos issue bothers me, too. I've found a lab in Fargo that will test it. We're not going to remove the tile and "tar paper" until we know what it is.

This part of the house was built before 1952 (although it was sold as a 1964 house.) We think the kitchen was "remodeled" in 1980 so the tile is much older than that.

Marie Cate - Astroturf; now that's an interesting idea! She can actually mop it? I wonder what Harry would think of the texture under his little tootsies?

DD bought an old house and the kitchen floor vinyl tiles were worn through the top layer of the color design. They won't be able to remodel the kitchen for another 5 years, so we painted the cabinets, walls and ceiling, and laid self stitcking Armstrong vinyl tiles on the floor, the cheapest at Home Depot. We also used it to cover all the shelves of the cabinets and bathroom vanities as the house was so filthy. Made it seem cleaner and pleasanter to live in for the duration. Vinyl tiles are easy to lay.

Caroline, since you're only going to have to live with it for a year, you could try calling around to flooring places and explaining the situation. Maybe they have rolls of vinyl flooring that you could get for even cheaper than 79 cents a foot....a slightly damaged piece or one with some color fading or something. No matter what the new floor is like, you're going to be so thrilled with being able to mop it up as often as you like!

lol I had carpet on my kitchen floor when we purchased our house! Isn't it awful! My home was only 7 years old back then. DH loved the carpet, said it was warm. He wouldn't let me replace it.....then I got fed up and just pulled it up myself. :0) All the ideas posted sound great to me....the astro turf is an inventive idea....but an uneven surface is harder to penetrate with the clorox solution I use. :0)

When we bought our house almost 30 years ago the kitchen had ugly, worn out pink linoleum. I bought those place and press square tiles in a nice yellow white and tan pattern. Did it all by myself. Tiles cost about $1 a piece. Then in 2005 we had a contractor re-do our kitchen. He found an installer for marmoleum floor covering, who didn't even need to remove my old place-and-press floor. Marmoleum is a "floating " floor, the pieces interlock. No gluing required. Cost about $800. Still looks great five years later. Not cheap but worked for us.

Carpet dealers have rolls of leftover vinyl from jobs; some quite large. They sell them dirt cheap, too. You didn't say what size your kitchen is but that would be the least expensive way to go. (Plus a lot of it is good quality stuff.)

Check with Menards or any dealer. Watch the asbestos issue, I don't know what the law is here, but in some states if that is found, you have to have a EPA inspector come in and check everything out and get a person licensed to remove the stuff. It might be better just to scrap and leave alone. You might quietly inquire around what the law is. Will check back with you later after I talk to DH who is gone today, but does know the federal laws.
Marie from ND

Did the white vinegar take the glue off?

If the floor is uneven and/or rough, your best bet would be to put down a luan covering first and then the tile or vinyl.It will cost a little more but it will look better and last a lot longer....What happens is where ever the flooring is uneven, it creases, folds, drops or even breaks and is hard to clean because of the dips... if it is serious enough.........If you know for sure in 1 2 months you are doing a remodel, I wouldn't worry about it but remodels sometimes get put off and you end up living with a butchered job. Luan will just even out the top covering and can be easily removed when you do the remodel and will keep the temporary looking good. If your floor is relatively smooth then just go for the vinyl...

I am really enjoying the floor they put in my kitchen. You can't see anything on it, not even the animal fur until you sweep. LOL My floor is Traffic Master peel and stick tiles from Home Depot. Ken did first put down a layer of adhesive but I don't think the tiles really needed it and now I have adhesive that he put down coming up between the cracks in a few tiles. I have the same floor tiles in my bathroom too. Love them. They are also standing up to the long nails on my dog.

Anne

My sister was in a similar situation a number of years ago while building a beach house. She used MDF cut into 20"x20" squares, laid in opposing directions (like tiles), painted with a heavy duty sealant that had a matte finish. And it really did look wowzer!! And held up to heavy traffic.
She kept it for a number of years before putting in hardwoods.
I found this picture of MDF on the internet. Yet I'm sure you could scout around on the internet that would show a finished floor.

Here is a link that might be useful: MDF photo