From: patter@dasher.uucp (24224-guthrie)
Subject: Re: Replacing Vinyl Flooring
Organization: Bellcore, Livingston, NJ
Date: Tue, 25 Aug 92 21:25:07 GMT
Keywords: flooring 

In article <1992Aug25.163621.2216@ncrcae.ColumbiaSC.NCR.COM> kent@lightnin.Columbia.NCR.COM (Kent Richardson) writes:

>	1.  I first wanted to remove the old linoleum before putting in a new    	    piece.  If I pull it up I've been told I must remove all of the                 old glue from the floor. I was wondering if there was a solvent that
>	    could be used to do this that would not affect the glue for the new 
>	    floor. I was told asbestos used to be used in the glue but my 
>	    house is only 6 yr. old so I didn't think this would be a concern?

I think you've been told wrong. A couple of weeks ago I redid a kitchen
floor. I pulled up the old stuff (one layer of flooring over a layer of
asphalt tiles), patched some nail holes and rot, spread Armstrong glue per
directions, and laid down a new vinyl sheet. I made no attempt to remove
the old glue and it looks fine so far.

In a six year old house the glue is almost certainly latex. Use a heat gun
and four inch scraper (the kind that looks like a wide putty knife) to get
the old stuff up. A propane torch can be used as the heat source instead
of a heat gun.

If you feel you must take the glue up, the method depends on the type. If
the glue is a yellowish color, it's latex. If it's black, it's an asphalt
base. Water will eventually soften latex glues. Mineral spirits will disolve
an asphalt base glue. I would try simply working with the scraper and no
solvent.

I also think you misunderstood one thing. They used to use asbestos in the
tile. I don't believe it was ever used in the glue.

>	2.  Both people I spoke to suggested leaving the old floor down and 
>	    placing a layer of 1/4" or less wood on top of it. My concern with
> 	    this method is that the new floor would barely clear the bottom of 
>	    the door if it is 1/4" higher. Also the current floor goes under the
>	    plate that is mounted to the floor under the door(name?). If I add
>	    1/4" to the floor how would I join the new floor to this strip, 
>	    since it obviously can't be raised. The only thing I could think of 
>	    would be to cut the linoleum straght along this plate (would 
>	    probably look like hell). Any suggestions?

That's called a "threshold" or a "sill plate". They can be purchased with
one side higher than the other for just this type of application. They're
usually held down with screws, so you could replace it.

>	3.  There is an adhesive that can be used to put linoleum over old
>	    linoleum, but I was told that if this is done the depressions in
>	    the old pattern would probably show through the new linoleum after
>	    some time.

They told you right. It probably would show through.

One alternative. You can remove the old covering and put down a layer of
15 pound felt. Then apply the new covering. This method can give problems
with soft vinyls (like Solarian) but it works well with stiffer stuff.

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                    | If you take a dog which is starving and feed him
George Patterson -  | and make him prosperous, that dog will not bite
                    | you. This is the primary difference between a dog
                    | and a man.             Samuel Clemens
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Newsgroups: misc.consumers.house