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tileing over linolium?

user-5416640 | Posted in General Discussion on May 21, 2003 03:29am

I am planning to lay ceramic or stone tile in my kitchen, I am not able to remove 3 layers of linolium put down by past owners. Since this will be a dry area do I need to lay cement board or would it be alright to lay the tile directly over the linolium. The linolium already brings the floor up 1/4″ above the adjoining rooms so I’d like to build up the existing floor as little as possible. Thanks

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Replies

  1. McDonnel3 | May 21, 2003 04:15pm | #1

    Well, I've done this twice now, with more than just a bit of trepidation. One job is over 8 years, the other over 5 years and both are doing o.k.

    Three things: one, I cleaned the floor with the nastiest stuff I could find.

    Second: I nailed off the floor using 1-1/2" galv. roofing nails, 6" O.C.

    Third: I used the very best latex modified thinset I could find.

  2. Scooter1 | May 21, 2003 07:02pm | #2

    The problem will be flex. Three layers might be a bit bouncy, and I can't tell you if it will work or not.

    The other issue will be adhesion, and I would want to scarify the surface of the flooring and use an expensive latex modified thinset like Flexbond. Expect to pay about $30 a bag for this.

    Regards,

    Boris

    "Sir, I may be drunk, but you're crazy, and I'll be sober tomorrow" -- WC Fields, "Its a Gift" 1934

  3. steve | May 22, 2003 03:28am | #3

    i just finished a kitchen reno that involved removing a few tiles and replacing then due to changes in the cabinet layout

    the ceramic tile was fastened directly to the old vinyl at least five years ago

    when i removed the tiles to be replaced with a hammer and cold chisel, the old vinyl came up with the ceramic leaving the paper backing

    dont know what was used as an adhesive, but it looked like thinset

  4. CAGIV | May 22, 2003 04:14am | #4

    you need at least an 1 1/4" or subfloor under the tile so your floor might not be sturdy enough to begin with, do you know whats under the the linolium? 

    More importantly, why can't you remove the old Lino?

    Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark, Professional build the Titanic.

    1. user-5416640 | May 26, 2003 04:29am | #5

      it's a 1x6 t&g subfloor...I was able to remove the lino in part of the room that the prev owner had laid over a hardwood floor however the area glued to the subfloor is nearly impossible to get up. thanks for the reply.

      1. CAGIV | May 26, 2003 04:58am | #6

        Is it glued directly to the 1x6 or is there another layer of subfloor over that.

        If there is something over the 1x6 rip it out, it will be much faster then monkeying around with the lino, then lay 1/2 ply over that and 1/4 cement board on top of the ply, glue and nail the cement board, then the tile.

        If the lino is directly over the 1x6 try dry ice to break the bond. then go over it with the ply and cement boardNever be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark, Professionals build the Titanic.

  5. andybuildz | May 26, 2003 05:08pm | #7

    Just got back home to NY from Florida where I did a tile job for my Mom "over linoleum". I wanted to rip it but she didn't want me to so O.K.

    What I did was I washed the floor first with a degreaser.....actually I did that several times. It was called Goo B Gone and it cleans everything from wax to anything sticky or shiney. Then I washed that up. Used acetone one time and the floor was seriously clean and dull.

    I mixed up some thinset WITH admix NOT WATER!!! Was really sticky.

    I trowled the thinset down over the lino and scraped it back and forth really hard with the smooth end of the trowel basically sanding it. Then I used the other end of the trowel keeping a kinda heavy bed.....I also back buttered every tile.

    I can quarentee you this floor ain't going anywhere before my Mom does and I can also quarentee you this 78 year old fireball aint goin' anywhere soon unless she gets hit by a vitamin truck.

    Be floored

                Namaste

                            andy

     

     

    In his first interview since the stroke, Ram Dass, 66, spoke with great difficulty about how his brush with death has changed his ideas about aging, and how the recent loss of two old friends, Timothy Leary and Allen Ginsberg, has convinced him that now, more than ever, is the time to ``Be Here Now.''

    http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM

  6. wrick2003 | May 26, 2003 07:35pm | #8

    removing old floor layers is somewhat tedious, but not entirely difficult.

    try setting the depth of your circular saw the thickness of the xtg flooring.

    run several cuts from one end of the room to the other, then cross cut these lines several times.

    take a prybar and peel them right up. the field will most likely come up quickly, and the edges, at the cabs, etc. will require some hand work.  

    i've done this hundreds of times.

    just my opinion, but i never understand why people accept such great and unnecessary changes in floor height. we looked at a house that had literally a 1 3/4" difference in height from dining room to kitchen!

    the only time i ever had to leave a floor with that height of threshold was a 120 year old house where we levelled the kitchen floor with floor mud mix, and had to build a nice maple step at the threshold. it was about 3" out of level across 9'.

    good luck     rg 

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