How hard is it to lay linoleum?

[justGina]

There's carpet in our kitchen, and I REALLY despise it. It holds in odors, and just looks black all the time (you should see the bottom of our feet! ).

We're really good friends with out landlords, and I'm sure he'd pay for the linoleum or whatever if we ripped out the carpet and installed the new flooring ourselves.

What I need to know is how much hassle is it? I've looked underneath the carpet, and there's this gluey substance all over.

TIA.

[Kimmomo3]

I don't know about sheet linoleum, but the sticky squares are very easy. Just plot out where they should go and stick 'em.

[Michelle]

I've been wondering the same thing (except in other rooms in my house, not the kitchen). I will need to take up carpeting too--and there's lots of it (ugh).

Maybe you could try looking for information on Home Depot's website? They have lots of how-to info. there. http://www.homedepot.com

HTH

[milach]

Never done it before, but I can't imagine it being all that difficult, as long as you measure 100 times before you cut it so you don't end up short anywhere. But I do know to stay away from the self stick ones, since the adhesive doesn't really hold that well. I'm sure f you measure everything propery and use a good adhesive, you shouldn't have any problems. Good luck!!

Laura

[paelthom]

I have done the kitchen floor and the bathroom floors twice (2 different houses). I used the self-stick squares and was really happy with the way it worked. I did buy a tube of Gorilla Glue to use in any places where I did not feel like there was enough sticky to hold the tiles down and anywhere that water might get to repeatedly (like near the bathtub and toilet). I have never had any trouble with the tiles coming up once they are down. Make sure that you clean the floor really well once the carpet comes up and keep the vacumn handy to continue cleaning as you go. Everyone is amazed at how my latest floor turned out. I got vinyl tile from Home Depot on sale and it looks exactly like a stone floor. One other thought, on those corners and weird places, use a sheet of paper as your pattern before you cut the tile and do buy extra there is always a oops.

[snowangel]

I use to be a landlord and have laid both types of flooring. If you can get the landlord to pop for it a thin board on top of the current floor will make it easier to lay. Just be sure to use screw or nails with grippers on them (this is not the technical term for them lol) or they will work out and damage the new tile.

For ease the squares are the ticket. They are easy to replace if one is damaged or cracks (using a glue gun and putty knife) and the glue holds pretty well. They do present a problem is any water is envolved. Because of this I have laid only linoleum in the distant past.

I like it better for the look and water protection for the flooring. If you don't want to worry about bad cuts: Make a pattern out of paper and fit the whole thing to your floor cutting to fit as you go. Mark the top of the paper before you lift it from the floor. This part is important--it is just like sewing. You must cut the linoleum from the back. So, you must lay the pattern with the side marked top down so it is facing the top of your lin.

It sounds like a lot of work but it really isn't. Once the cutting is over the rest is down hill. Glue and go. Good luck.