Can laminate flooring be laid on linoleum?

To date, the laminate is considered the most practical, convenient and wear-resistant type of flooring. But in order for him to retain all his excellent qualities over the years, it is necessary to take care of the correct laying, to properly prepare the foundation. And, of course, I want to find such technical solutions in which the time, effort and money will be minimal. In this article we will analyze one of them - is it possible to lay a laminate on linoleum.

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Is it possible to lay a laminate on top of linoleum?

Laying a laminate on a surface of any type requires compliance with certain rules:

• The base of the floor must be flat, only slight differences are allowed, not more than 3 mm.
• The moisture level of the substrate should not exceed 2%.

That is, if the linoleum is even, there are no damages and bulges on it, then you can safely lay a laminate on top of it. In addition, it is necessary to consider that they produce a laminate based on wood, which does not like moisture. We conclude that it is impossible to lay it on raw linoleum. Otherwise, the floor is simply deformed.

Important! When choosing linoleum, it should be borne in mind that it should not be too soft, because under heavy exposure the floor can begin to bend.

It may seem to some that it’s easier to tear off the old coating, but in fact, it’s better to first assess the situation, figure out what state it is in. If there are no serious defects on linoleum, only completely removable damage is present, then in this case it is more logical to lay a laminate on top of it in order to achieve a high level of sound insulation and additionally insulate the floor.

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How to prepare for laying laminate flooring?

So you got the answer to the question whether it is possible to lay a laminate on linoleum, but it is necessary to carefully prepare for work. Performing such an installation has certain features, and it is definitely recommended to consider them.

Types of jobs

You will need to perform:

• Additional sound and thermal insulation. It is advisable that this work is performed by a specialist.
• A laminate just bought must be given enough time to get used to the temperature conditions in the room.

Important! We'll have to wait for him to gain the same humidity and temperature that is characteristic of the working room.

• Check the matching patterns and colors on the purchased material.
• Prepare the necessary tools and materials.
• Make sure the floor is even. Remember that only minor bumps are allowed.
• Check whether linoleum meets the standards of materials that are used as substrates.

Direct preparation

At the next stage of preparation, it is necessary to check how well linoleum is bonded to the floor. If any damage is detected, it is necessary to eliminate them in order to avoid squeaks in the future, because they mainly arise due to poor-quality substrate. Too soft linoleum is also not suitable for this purpose, since this leads to curvature and sagging of the floor.

Important! If linoleum looks too bad, it is recommended to refrain from using it as a substrate, since in the future this will certainly lead to serious problems.

We use an additional substrate

To avoid problems, you can coat the material on top with a special 3 mm thick substrate. As a rule, they make it from:

• traffic jams;
• polystyrene foam;
• foamed polyethylene foam.

The cork substrate is considered the most reliable. The use of materials that include several layers of polystyrene and polyethylene contributes to the improvement of the waterproofing properties of the floor covering.

Important! The substrate is the most important part in the arrangement of the floor, if it is not done, then cracks may soon form.

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How is laminate flooring done on its own?

You now know that you can lay laminate flooring on linoleum, so drop all questions and get down to business. In order to do everything correctly and efficiently, it is necessary to familiarize yourself with the main features of this process and clearly observe each stage of implementation.

To lay a laminate, follow these steps:

• Work begins with the first row using two boards.
• Between the wall and the material, it is imperative to indent, approximately 10 mm in size. This will provide the coating a free run, which is very important when swelling.

Important! If you do not leave this gap, then the laminate is likely to swell.

• Installation itself takes place according to the “lock on yourself” system. This technique does not take much time, but the result is perfect.
• The final row must be performed using a clamp.

Important! Laminate should be bandaged to ensure even distribution of loads on the floor surface. And in order to make the seams invisible, the boards should be positioned so that daylight falls along them.

So you have learned how to lay laminate flooring on linoleum, what rules must be followed, what recommendations to follow in order to make you happy, and the floor covering lasts as long as possible. But there are a few more nuances.

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Common Laminate Laying Errors

Most often, the following gross errors are made when installing a laminate:

• During material selection, its thickness is ignored. The height in the room decreases depending on the thickness of the panels, as they rise, so this parameter must be taken into account.
• Due to incorrect material, waste is generated. To avoid this problem, you must carefully select the boards in width and length.
• Lack of laminate in the installation process. Therefore, it is recommended to buy it with a margin.
• The material begins to travel on the surface due to the fact that the stage of its fixation was missed.
• Damage to laminate locks. In order not to encounter this trouble, it is better to do the work with a rubber hammer.
• Material cutting should be done only at right angles.

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Stock footage

We answered the question of whether it is possible to lay laminate on the old linoleum, talked about all the subtleties of this process, identified the main mistakes that beginner builders make. So - you will not have any difficulties. High-quality styling makes the coating as attractive and durable as possible.