How to lay linoleum

It's no secret that linoleum is one of the most popular floor coverings. This material is durable, has low thermal conductivity, good sound insulation, while its cost is lower than that of other coatings and it is easy to operate. In addition, a wide range of species is presented on the market, which allows you to choose the coating that is most suitable for the premises.

Linoleum is produced in rolls, the standard width of the material is usually in the range from 1 to 2 meters. Also, the product varies in thickness - from 2 to 5 mm. The thickness depends on the material of manufacture and the type of base, which can be of two types: fabric or paper.

How to lay linoleum?

Linoleum is an easy-to-use material, so it is not difficult to lay it. There are two options for laying the coating: the first is dry, fit linoleum for furniture, baseboards and corners. In the second case, adhesive pastes or mastics are used for laying the coating. Linoleum lies on a flat surface. The key to the fact that the flooring will last a long time and will look beautiful is the thorough preparation of the foundation.

What if the floor is uneven?

Flooring plywood or fiberboard. The floor should be flat, smooth, without protruding parts and dents. In addition, the base must be strong and not bend under loads. Any irregularities can lead to deformation and rupture of linoleum. Therefore, it is recommended to pre-attach the plywood boards with nails in increments of 15 cm. The joints can be putty and sanded. To determine how flat the floor is, it is best to use a building level. For lack of it, you can use a ruler or an even bar.

Linoleum can be laid both on a wooden floor and on parquet. As in the case of a plank base, it is necessary to jut out the protruding elements. In addition, it is recommended that all joints and cracks be putty so that defects of the old floor do not appear over time on the new floor. If a floor screed has been made. In this case, it is necessary to wait until the surface has completely dried. Otherwise, linoleum will begin to deteriorate.

Linoleum preparation

In warehouses and in the store linoleum is stored in rolls. Therefore, new material often bends around the edges, trying to take its usual shape. Also, during loading and delivery, dents may appear on the surface of the product. Therefore, so that the material fits snugly and evenly to the floor, it must be prepared. For this, the material must be spread on the floor and allowed to lie down for a day or two. This time is enough to completely straighten the material and be ready for use.

Next, you need to cut the material into pieces of appropriate sizes. Plain linoleum is easy to cut. It is more difficult if the work is carried out using a material with an ornament. In this case, when slicing, it is important to remember the need to combine the picture. When fitting the pattern, cuts should also be made in the places of the angular bends. This will avoid the formation of bumps. The material must be cut taking into account doorways and bends on the walls (10cm).

The option of laying linoleum dry flooring

The method of laying without the use of adhesive solutions is usually used in small rooms, where the width of the canvas corresponds to the width of the floor: corridors, interior walkways, bathrooms. The straightened coating is laid on the prepared base and pressed by skirting boards. Recommended room temperature at least 15 ° C.

The final nailing of the skirting boards is best done 1-2 weeks after the work. During this time, the material will fully recover and will be pressed to the floor. If you still have to do the docking of the pieces, the alignment should be glued with mastic.

Option for laying linoleum on glue

This method is more reliable than dry laying. In addition, it allows you to cover large areas with the joints of individual paintings.

Before starting work, it is necessary to clean the floor surface from contamination, and also one day before the work, process the back of the linoleum with a primer. It is also recommended to prime the floor, but you can do without it. If the material is laid on wooden boards, then the sheets should be laid along the boards, taking care that the joints of linoleum do not coincide with the joints of the wooden base. Next, the adhesive mastic must be applied both to the back of the linoleum and to the floor. When applying, it is necessary to slightly deviate from the edges of the material, leaving them dry.

After the coating is laid, it is necessary to firmly press the canvas to the floor to remove excess mastic and air. It is necessary to press linoleum from the center to the edge. Excess mastic should protrude from under the edges, after which they must be carefully removed with a rag. For the complete drying of the mastic and the gluing of linoleum, it takes several days. During this time, possible styling defects, swelling will become visible. In this case, it is necessary to lay on them a sheet of plywood pressed down from above by a load.

After the defects are eliminated, you can begin to trim the edges. To do this, press the ruler firmly against the floor and cut off the edge with a sharp knife. Then, unscrewing the canvases, thoroughly grease the edges and the floor under them with an adhesive, press firmly and remove any excess glue that protrudes. Place a load on top and leave to dry completely. When working with a pattern, at first one sheet of material is completely glued. Then, in a day, the next sheet is laid, having previously combined the drawing, and it is glued only along the joint, approximately 15-20 cm wide. The joint is pressed with the load until it dries completely. A day later, the rest of the sheet is glued.

Linoleum Care

1. Do not use very hot water to clean the floor, this causes the linoleum to lose its luster.
2. Try to avoid the use of detergents containing soda, alcohols, alkaline soap.
3. To maintain the shine of the floor, rub the floor 1-2 times a month with mastic or drying oil. After applying the care product, the floor must be rubbed with a soft cloth or polisher.

Subject to these simple rules, your work will not be in vain and the new floor will be pleasing to the eye for many years. Now you know how to lay linoleum and keep it intact for many years.