We buy and apply glue for linoleum on a concrete floor

28-02-2018

Building

Laying linoleum refers to not very complex and time-consuming construction work, it is quite affordable for independent execution. This process does not require special tools or any skills. At a minimum, this is not cutting reinforced concrete with diamond circles, where it is desirable to have special equipment and the ability to use it.

The absence of irregularities on the surface of the floor covered with linoleum - the merit of a special glue

Hand laying linoleum

In order to cope with such work yourself you need to know a few key things:

How to choose the right linoleum - this aspect is influenced by many factors (in short we will tell about it a little later).
How to glue linoleum to concrete in order to avoid the offset of the decorative coating.
What tool should you have?
How to stick linoleum on a concrete floor.

The choice of linoleum

For a start, let us briefly describe what species this material is divided into.

Modern construction market offers us:

Commercial.
Household - used in non-residential premises (utility rooms, staircases, elevators, etc.)
Semi-commercial (something intermediate between the two main groups).

Linoleum commercial group have a high degree of all the qualities of linoleum:

Low abrasion (durability).
Practicality.
Low flammability (fire safety).
Noise absorption.
Thermal insulation.
Waterproofing.

Of course, the price of this type of product is the highest among fellows. But this is fully justified if we take into account the long service life in almost original appearance while preserving all the technical and operational properties.

Tip! Do not be tempted by the low cost of domestic linoleum, choose at least semi-commercial linoleum for an apartment especially if you have pets (cats, dogs).

Buying glue

For the right decision, what to glue linoleum to concrete should consider the following:

Floor operating conditions:

Maximum permeability per day.
Carrying or dragging heavy loads.

The quality of linoleum to be glued.

The temperature in the room when working.

In order to glue the linoleum on a concrete floor exposed to increased loads, it is necessary to completely cover the entire surface of the base with glue, in order to avoid displacement of the coating with the formation of wrinkles, warps and other defects.

Note! For floors with small loads on the coating, you can use a point glue application, around the perimeter of the cloth and crosswise over the area.

Obviously, the decision how to glue linoleum to the concrete floor will directly affect the consumption of adhesive, and, therefore, on your budget.

Varieties of adhesives for linoleum

The task of how to glue the linoleum to the concrete in certain conditions, everyone decides in his own way. Someone acquires compositions of industrial production, someone believes that you can do with self-made glue.

There are also universal formulations designed for “virtually” all types of coatings.

Interesting! Really cook glue for linoleum at home is possible. You need to take a piece of linoleum, grind it put in a suitable container and pour a compatible solvent. Constantly stirring to bring the mass to the desired consistency and use as intended. But is it worth it to do with an extensive offer of adhesive compositions of industrial production.

Adhesives are distinguished by:

Water soluble polyvinyl acetate or acrylic based formulations. They are used for gluing linoleum without a substrate on wooden bases and concrete, cement screeds. This is necessary so that the water in the adhesive composition can evaporate unhindered and ensure uniform and reliable adhesion of the coating.

Note! Such adhesives are widely used in work with household analogues of linoleum. The average consumption of such glue is 0.2-0.3 kg per square meter. Water based adhesives are afraid of low temperatures.

It is also convenient that the manufacturers took care of the provision of tar of various sizes.

Reactive (entering into interaction with the lower layer of the coating, which causes a reliable adhesion of materials) epoxy, polyurethane. Such compositions are considered universal, however, due to their high cost, they are mainly used for sticking linoleum of a commercial group. These compounds are resistant to temperature changes and increased humidity.

Note! The consumption of the reaction compositions from 0.3 to 0.5 kg per square meter.

For sizing the seams at the junction of the panels or, if necessary, to repair the existing coating, so-called cold welding is used.. This glue is divided into classes:

Class C - for used linoleum.
Class A - to work with the newly acquired material. Consumption of such glue 50-60 ml per 25 meters of running seam with a coating thickness of 3 mm.

In the photo - cold welding of two sheets of linoleum

The working process

Now step-by-step instruction on how to glue linoleum on concrete:

Before starting work, you must perform preparatory manipulations: the base under the linoleum must be cleaned from debris and foreign objects. Remove the plinths. (See also the article Heater for concrete: features.)

Tip! Before applying the glue, it would be a good idea to primer a concrete base to increase adhesion. It is even better if the primer composition includes antibacterial additives (antiseptic). This will shield both the substrate and the coating from harmful biological effects. When buying a primer, pay attention to its compatibility with the selected adhesive.

We lay down the linoleum with a construction knife with replaceable blades, leaving an allowance of 5-6 cm, and lay it on a ready-made base.
We open the container with glue and mix well. Thick compositions for uniform and economical distribution are applied to the base with a notched trowel, liquid - with a wide trowel with a smooth edge or a large rectangular brush.
Glue is applied in the chosen order, first under one bent part of the cloth, we smooth out the linoleum well, removing the air bubbles from under it. The direction of movement from the middle to the edges.

Please note that the drying time for different types of glue differs.

Remove excess glue with a soft cloth.
For the final setting of the glue, you must wait about 10 days and not create sudden temperature jumps.

In this picture, the whole process is painted, which you will have to carry out by laying your own linoleum

Attention! All adhesives have a peculiar smell, so work should be done in a well-ventilated area. And if it is required to make diamond drilling of holes in concrete, then it is better to do this before laying the coating.

When working with adhesives, be sure to use personal protective equipment, including for the organs of sight and respiration. (See also the article Aligning the concrete floor: features.)

Conclusion

In small rooms it is enough to fix the canvas at the edges.

Many may say that ordinary PVA glue or any instant glue will be suitable for fixing linoleum on a concrete floor, but this is not so. Of course, you can save on budget coverage options, for example, when you need to lay it at a dacha, in an economic room, but not in the conditions where you live.

In the presented video in this article you will find additional information on this topic.