Can you put new linoleum over old in a kitchen?

Question

If not, how much prep is necessary after pulling up the old linoleum? I'd appreciate good advice. Thanks

Answer 1

Sure you can add another layer of flooring. But only if your current flooring is in decent shape. You don't want more than two or three layers, more than that is asking for trouble. Make sure your old floor is level and there is some texture for the new glue to grab on to. Some of the new vinyl flooring uses no glue. You read that right.This new type of vinyl flooring is thicker to hold up better, but you need to be sure your new vinyl floor is made to glue down, or to be taped. I just replaced some vinyl flooring in my hall and it uses double sided sticky tape. It was very easy and really held the new vinyl well. I put the new flooring on top of the old, using Luan and then the new vinyl. I used those metal trim strips to transition the new floor height to the existing floor in other adjoining rooms. If you put the new flooring over the old, you will have to consider the fact that someday you may need to repeat this process and at that time, you will have to take up all the old flooring. Spend time now, or later. My parents just put new flooring in their kitchen and it had two layers of vinyl already there. So they took it all up and started over. My kitchen has two layers now and I will have to take it all up when it is time to remodel. Lots of good advice in the above answers from others, lots of things to consider and to check out with your floor. Good luck.
Your old flooring might be vinyl or it might be linoleum and it might contain asbestos, so be careful if you do decide to remove it.

Answer 2

Yes you can, but I would not recommend it. However, if you are ripping it up, you need to know the age of the flooring and what type is underneath it. If you have several layers, you may not want to touch the really old stuff underneath. Many of the older linoleum contain asbestos. As we all know that is a health hazard, and it is more dangerous when you tear into it and kick up the dust.

Now to address the second problem. Pulling up the old can be simple, it can be hard. It depends on the type, age, how it was affixed to the floor, etc... If it was glued, rip up the top layer and either scrape up the rest, or there are commercial removers. You can purchase at your local home improvement center. (They can be very smelly, have a well-ventilated area.)

If you are working on an old home or an older rental property, you'll very likely find layer after layer. As that was the easiest way to do things.

Answer 3

With no offense at all, I cannot imagine a valid answer stating a FLOOR OVER is a good way to go.

Depending on how the old was installed, and its age, it may take no more than a floor scraper to remove the flooring and adhesive, then determine filling the areas that may be depressed, to allow a smooth install.

You might even get away without any major sanding, but that can be done with a hand held belt sander if need be.

Without knowing the substrate, which I might assume is plywood in a newer home, but could be plank floors in an OLD home, that is an issue to address once the OLD is removed.

I can't know if you truly mean "LINO" but if so, I'd advise NOT redoing in LINO. Vinyl sheet stock is certainly the more update way to go, and is durable, comes in thousands of choices, and is relatively inexpensive, as well as easy enough to install for a DIY.

Steven Wolf

Answer 4

I would not recommend putting down lino over lino. Lino stretches with use and time so it will never lay securely over old lino. Ripping it up is hard work (I'm assuming the old stuff was glued properly?). the glue is tough as old boots so I'm afraid the only thing for it is brute force and a wallpaper scraper (or similar sharp flat blade) to scrape away at the glue and get rid of it. Depending on the state of your floor once you've finnished will determine if you can lay your new lino or not right away. You may find it's got lumpy bits from the glue that may need sanding first. I won't pretend this is not going to be hard work - personally I would just pay someone to do it if you can afford to. Good luck!

Answer 5

Just like Rahab stated, you may run the risk of exposing yourself to asbestos depending how old the flooring is. If the current floor is in decent condition then laying another layer of vinyl isn't an issue, just be sure to use an embossing leveler as a prep for the new floor.

Answer 6

you can but its really not that hard to just pull up the old you just remove the molding or trim and start pulling we recently removed our linoleum and put down a wood floor the whole process was pretty easy the hardest part was motivating my husband haha

Answer 7

Please don't add the new lino over the old!!!! When I went to Louisiana after the hurricanes, I helped clean down the houses down there. One house we were at have 5 layers of lino. We spent a day and a half pulling it all up. What we used was elbow grease and floor scrapers.

Answer 8

If you don't want to remove the old, then you can lay Luan over it and then lay the new floor over the Luan. Luan is basically 1/4" plywood that comes in 4x8 sheets. By doing this the old pattern will not show through the new vinyl flooring.

Answer 9

Yes you can, just make sure the old is sound. Remove any bad spots and fill with a latex patch. This is the easiest way to a new floor and will last just as long if done properly.

Answer 10

depends on how many old layers are down now
if just one you should be fine, if more than 3 no, as far as removing the old, you may want to check it for asbestos first.

good luck, i get a contractor to do it