How to glue linoleum to linoleum
Linoleum flooring has a durable structure, but still wears out over time. As a rule, their service life is decades, but it may happen that it may break under certain loads or simply lose its quality appearance faster due to poor care. In this case, you will have to lay a new floor covering. However, this is the beauty of linoleum coverings, because they can be laid directly on top of each other without spending your time dismantling the old floor.
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Is it possible to glue linoleum onto linoleum?
As a rule, if the flooring requires replacement, then people do not bother with removing and cleaning the old one. On the one hand, this is correct - it saves time and effort. In addition, several layers of material will significantly insulate the floor, making the house more comfortable and warmer. However, there may be pitfalls here too.
The main disadvantage of this method is the possible destruction of the floor. This is true for old houses or for those who have moved to a new private house and do not know what condition it is in now. Of course, if the house is not completely old, it would be wiser to lay the old covering on top of the new one - it’s easier, softer and warmer.
Therefore, even if a person decides not to dismantle the old layer, he must at least peel back several separate sections of the coating to check the condition of the floor. If this is not done, then a person may lose not only extra time, but also his money. After all, when a wooden floor rots, the structure of linoleum also collapses faster. In addition, once the floor is opened, it will no longer be possible to re-lay the old covering.
It is also important to understand that if the old coating has many holes, large cracks or swelling, then it is better to dismantle it. After all, these listed signs make it clear that there is mold, mildew, or other harmful microorganisms under the coating. If you don’t get rid of this initially, then the new linoleum will become the same in the shortest possible time, no matter how well it is looked after.
Answering the question: “Is it possible to lay a new coating on an old one?” - then you should answer - it is necessary! However, observing several important conditions:
- good condition of the floor;
- no serious damage to linoleum;
- absence of fungus, mold and other contaminants under the coating;
- the degree of loads that will fall on the coating;
What will it take?
In order to attach layers of linoleum, two gluing methods are mainly used:
- Hot welding.
- Cold welding.
Important! The need to use these methods is that they are intended directly to strengthen the layers and joints of the coating. Indeed, if these areas are poorly strengthened, the linoleum will lift up greatly, and subsequently completely peel off from the floor.This problem not only worsens the appearance of the interior, but also creates a serious danger for the residents of this house. After all, there is a high risk of tripping over these bends and getting accidentally injured.
Hot welding involves attaching layers using special commercial equipment. As you might guess, it operates on the principle of hot welding of layers of material. This connection is as reliable and durable as possible. However, all these advantages result in one drawback - this solution is the most expensive.
Cold welding, in turn, occurs according to the principle of cold welding. This method is the most common. In order to use it, you need to purchase special tubes of the substance of the same name, which in appearance are very similar to standard glue. It is available in two forms:
- Class “A” adhesive – used for new coatings.
- Class “C” adhesive – used for old coatings.
Class “A” has a more liquid state of structure, and is applied directly after bonding the layers of the new coating with tape. This is necessary so that the material does not move along the surface and does not interfere with uneven gluing. After marking and complete preparation, the tape is cut into an even and thin strip in the center, but taking into account that the edges are well secured. A consistency of cold glue is poured inside this cut, which performs its main task. After finishing the work, you need to wait 5 minutes and completely remove the tape - there will be a neat and invisible seam underneath.
Important! Many “craftsmen” who do not want to spend money on purchasing cold glue simply fasten layers of materials using ordinary nails and elements similar in principle. Firstly, this is not aesthetically pleasing and greatly spoils the appearance, and secondly, it also significantly complicates the process of dismantling the coatings in the future. In addition, there is a high risk of damaging the coating and rendering it unusable.
Important points and recommendations
Laying linoleum requires a responsible and attentive approach, and no less important - good knowledge. After all, not only the appearance of the coating, but also its service life depends on the quality of work.
The first and important tip concerns the use of cold welding. It should be used only if the premises will not require any repairs for a long time. This is due to the fact that when materials are cold welded, dismantling the floor covering will be very complicated. As a rule, special equipment is used to remove multi-layer linoleum, which costs a lot of money. Therefore, before deciding to use cold glue, you need to additionally make sure that you will not have to repair the floor for many years.
The second tip flows smoothly from the first. Many people do not want to prepare the base of the floor in advance, so they simply use ordinary baseboards to secure the linoleum. However, this solution leads to the risk of swelling and unevenness of the coating. Fixing this problem will be quite difficult. In addition, if the interior of the house includes bulky and heavy furniture, in 40% of cases this ends in torn coverings.
The third tip concerns the gluing itself. It is important to know that a poor-quality connection of the material may not be immediately noticeable, but it will manifest itself at the first opportunity. Specifically, with high humidity or strong temperature changes. Under such conditions, the product simply contracts or is stretched. To avoid this, it is necessary to carefully and evenly glue the joints and edges of the joint elements.
How to glue linoleum onto linoleum: step by step
The whole process is carried out in several stages:
- preparatory;
- material cutting;
- gluing layers;
- sealing seams;
The first step is to ensure that the floor is in good condition and fully compliant. After this, preparatory work begins: removing furniture, removing baseboards, cleaning the surface, preparing tools.
After everything is ready, the required size of the canvas is measured and further cutting occurs. When all the necessary parts are placed in place, they are glued together with masking tape.
The tape is carefully cut in the center and a special adhesive composition is poured into it. Having done this work in all areas where it needs to be glued, the tape is removed.
The final stage is re-sealing the seams. Applies the same principle as the previous step.