Laying laminate on linoleum

Before the start of repair work in the apartment, many think about whether to dismantle the flooring and put the laminate on the linoleum. This option is possible, only you need to know how to do it.

When the need arises

Installation of laminate on top of old linoleum is performed in the following cases:

• If the owner of the new building wishes to update the decorative flooring.
• This option is possible if you decide to save on surface preparation for work.

Requirements for the old coating

Laying laminate on top of old linoleum will be possible only if the following requirements are met:

1. So that during the operation the laminate does not bend or deform, the linoleum should not be very worn and hard.
2. The surface must be dry, smooth and clean. Be sure to make sure that the linoleum fits snugly to the floor, over the entire surface.
3. You can not work with just purchased material. He must be given to “rest in bed” for three days. During this time, he must adapt to the microclimate of the room.
4. Before laying the laminate on linoleum, you must use a substrate. For this purpose, cork substrates or foamed polystyrene substrates are suitable.
5. After purchasing a laminate, it is imperative to check all panels for defects. They should not differ in color and have noticeable chips or delamination.

Note! The laying surface must be perfectly flat. Small drops (2 mm) are allowed. In case of large surface defects, the laid laminate can swell or bend, and subsequently produce unpleasant squeaks.

Assembly process

Before you put the laminate on linoleum, read through all the stages of the work.

The technology of work is quite simple and does not have much difference from laying laminate on a normal surface.

Note! You can start installation from any side, but it is best to start laying in such a way that the seams are perpendicular to the window of the room. So the light falling from the window will not highlight the joints between the lamellae.

1. Initially, the substrate is laid. Experts recommend not covering the floor completely, but as the work proceeds: they put one row, they stretched another lane. If you spread all the material at once, it will interfere with and move during the installation of the laminate.
2. Then you need to take a few boards, and lay them in one row along the wall, fastening between the end parts.
3. To make laminate boards fit snugly together, use a rubber hammer and a small wooden plank to “fit”. Stick it to the end of the board (but not to the ridge, but higher, so as not to break it) and gently tapping them, push them close to each other.
4. Laying out the first row, you need to fix it tightly against the wall. Before this, be sure to insert small wedges (1 cm thick) between the wall and the laminate. This is necessary to ensure the deformation gap. During operation, the laminate can swell when exposed to moisture, which can lead to swelling of the surface. This gap and compensates for the lack of space.
5. The second row is laid in the same way, only you need to start not with the whole board, but with half. Thus, laminate boards will lie in a checkerboard pattern, which visually looks prettier and significantly increases the resistance of the material to the driving force.
6. Folding the second row, you will need to dock it with the first. It is better to do it together. The strip is led to the first row, and at an angle of 30 degrees is inserted into the ridge, then gently press.
7. If after connecting the strips of laminate between them, the gap is still visible, then they are fitted to each other with a rubber hammer. You need to gently tap the entire length until you achieve the desired result.
8. When laying it is important to consider all communications that take place in the floor. When installing a laminate sheet in such a place, it is cut with an electric jigsaw or a hole is drilled with a special nozzle. After this, the place of the cut is sealed with silicone sealants.

Note! In the process of fitting boards it is important not to overdo it, because you can easily damage them. If this happens, the broken laminate board needs to be replaced, and the damaged one can be used to complete a row where you need to trim one edge. In this case, the damaged side is cut off.

Thus carry out the laying of all strips of laminate. The main rule that must be followed when working is the use of wedges around the perimeter to provide a gap between the laminate and the walls.

Note! When laying laminate on linoleum, care must be taken not to damage the surface. Small holes or scratches on linoleum can later affect the quality of operation - irregularities or unpleasant squeaks will appear.

Video, how to lay laminate on linoleum (and this process is not much different from laying laminate on other surfaces), will allow to more accurately understand the essence of the work.

Possible defects

1. Even when laid flat linoleum when laying a laminate coating on it will not be able to serve as a substrate. Therefore, saving on the acquisition of quality material is not worth it.
2. Before starting work, do not forget to trim the door trim (if any) to the height of the laminate layer and the substrate.

Installation of plinths

After laying the laminate on the linoleum joints and deformation gaps are decorated with special scales and baseboards. The plinth completes the floor composition well, you need to choose it in color and it is desirable to do this together with the purchase of laminate.

Very convenient plinth with a special channel that allows you to fix inside the elements of electrical wiring. Decorative threshold, used for decorating the joint of the laminate with another coating of the next room.

Laying laminate on linoleum is possible, as long as the surface meets all the requirements.