Replies

1. 
   Guest_ | May 07, 2000 04:07am | #1

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   Well, for starters you shouldn't be installing tile on what is most likely quarter inch luan stapled to three quarter sub floor if your lucky. Tear up the quarter inch luan and that solves your adheisive problem, then install some half inch concrete board in thinset screwed down. and tile away, or tile over that pesky adhesive the way it is and at least when your grout joints crumble and your tiles pop of it will be easier to scrape off the rest of the floor and start over. Good luck, Steve

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   Guest_ | May 08, 2000 06:27am | #2

   *Doug,Here's some choices: Get out your "cat's paw" tool and tear off the luan like Steve suggested (hope the luan is not glued down with construction glue; which makes tear-off a lot harder). And then install concrete board as Steve indicated. N0. 2 option....Don't tear off anything more (except for any loose paper backing) and instead install 1/4 inch concrete board overtop of existing floor, and then install your tile. This will increase your floor height slightly and may result in you having to trim off the bottom of any doors in this room; but maybe not. This will also add a bit of weight to your floor joists ( not much, just a little) so you need to know if the joists are large enough to handle it. If in doubt about structure loads, consult your local Building Inspector or Engineer. The 3rd option is to go to your local Home Depot Store and purchase UNIVERSAL TILE SETTING ADHESIVE manufactured by UVEX. Accordingly, this stuff can be applied overtop of any substrate (including your lineoleum) so long as the subtrate is sound and tight. If the lineoleum paper backing is tight to the floor, no need to scrape it off.The main thing to consider when tiling a floor is whether the floor is stiff or bouncy. A floor with too much flex in it will cause your tiles to pop off. If your floor is stiff, then go ahead. If not, you need to add stiffness. Installing such 1/2 inch concrete backer boards as Steve mentioned will probaly give you the needed stiffness. I doubt that 1/4 inch will.Tile used to be installed over luan floors all the time. However, if installing in a bathroom, use the concrete backer board. In moisture prone areas, water vapor (and water spills) could eventually penetrate the grout lines and cause the luan to expand and pop the tiles (not to mention rotting the luan). If this tile work is for somewhere else in the house, then the concrete backer board is more of a luxury than a neccesity, and using luan should be OK.If it was me, I'd probably sheet right overtop the existing floor with the 1/4 inch concrete backer board (if my existing floor was already plenty stiff) and proceed from there. It's up to you.Good luck on whatever way you decide.Davo

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   Guest_ | May 08, 2000 12:41pm | #3

   *"The tile is 6x6 and thicker than normal, if that has any bearing on your response"Ceramic tile or vinyl? If vinyl, any "contour" in the substrate will telegraph through (and I mean _any_) Put vinyl over an embossed vinyl and the embossing will telegraph through!Bob

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   D.D._Wilson | May 12, 2000 02:55am | #4

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   All of the above is first-rate advice. But I would like to throw my two-cents worth on two other factors: the first being the age of the linoleum and it's adhesive. If the adhesive is roughly 25-years old or more, there is a pretty good chance that the adhesive is asbestos-based (frequently a jet-black color) and thus you should approach this with caution. And my second comment has to do with tiling the floor itself. I frequently point out that tile on the bathroom flooris as slick as you can get when you've dripped water on it from the shower, etc. It's also hard on feet and cold in the winter. For the safety factor, many homes have small (1x1) tile on the floor creating enough grout lines to lessen the slickness of the tile itself. You may wish to go with vinyl again tho... for ease of installation and ease on the pocketbook both now and should you decide to change it sooner than later. Good luch with your project.

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   Doug_Recko_ | May 12, 2000 02:55am | #5

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   Hi, I'm planning on tiling our bathroom this weekend and last night I ripped up the linoleum. Most of it came up, but in some spots it seems that the lino separated from the adhesive & backing so that when I pulled it up, the backing (which looks like construction paper) and the adhesive underneath it stayed on the floor. Do I really need to pull this stuff up?? I'm thinking that it's down there pretty good so why screw with it. Otherwise the floor is pretty uniform and level. (I did see a can of adhesive remover in the hardware store this morning which prompted my question). The tile is 6x6 and thicker than normal, if that has any bearing on your response. THanks!!