Question:
I’m looking to improve the floor in my kitchen, which predates my ownership of the house and is in terrible shape. I have decided to continue with vinyl flooring, and have got a number of estimates. In one case, they want to remove the existing flooring and put down new underlayment and the flooring, increasing the cost quite a bit. The other place is quite happy to put it on top of what is there now. So, I asked why. The folks who want to put it on top quoted me for the extra cost for removal, but felt that they would do it themselves if it was their own home. The other contractor said that for "soft floors" you don’t get a good install (and more susceptible to denting) if you don’t take out the floor. I realize this is a Coke/Pepsi or Mac/PC or Nikon/Canon type of issue, but I’d be intersted to hear some opinions? Thanks, Steve http://www.portigal.com http://chittahchattah.blogspot.com
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I’m looking to improve the floor in my kitchen, which predates my > ownership of the house and is in terrible shape. I have decided to > continue with vinyl flooring, and have got a number of estimates. In > one case, they want to remove the existing flooring and put down new > underlayment and the flooring, increasing the cost quite a bit. The > other place is quite happy to put it on top of what is there now. > So, I asked why. The folks who want to put it on top quoted me for the > extra cost for removal, but felt that they would do it themselves if > it was their own home. The other contractor said that for "soft > floors" you don’t get a good install (and more susceptible to denting) > if you don’t take out the floor. > I realize this is a Coke/Pepsi or Mac/PC or Nikon/Canon type of issue, > but I’d be intersted to hear some opinions?
If you DON’T remove the old floor surface, at least make sure they seal over the cracks/dents/etc with the flexible filler compound. If old floor has deep texture features (like fake brick joints, etc), I’d pull it up. Any bumps/cracks/lines will telegraph through the new floor, especially when sunlight is shining across at a low angle. Best way is fresh thick underlayment, well screwed to joists, with sealed cracks so they don’t show through. 2nd best, if old subfloor is solid and non-flexing, is to peel from above the chipboard on up- sometimes hard, if old floor was put in before the base cabinets. Fix any nail pops, add screws, seal joints, etc. If I was going to the expense of pulling cabinets and replacing the underlayment, I’d go ahead and spend the extra few hundred and put down ceramic, personally. aem sends….
Response:
> the cracks/dents/etc with the flexible filler compound. If old floor has > deep texture features (like fake brick joints, etc), I’d pull it up. Any > bumps/cracks/lines will telegraph through the new floor, especially when > sunlight is shining across at a low angle. Best way is fresh thick
Heh. In this apartment the original vinyl flooring had an octagonal tile pattern grooved into it. The new has a square 6" tile "groove" to it. If you stand on it, you can see the octagonal tile pattern shining through. On the other hand, I’ve seen apartments that had four layers of vinyl on the floor, all alike so that there wasn’t any different pattern to telegraph through. So I guess I’d have to say, if the old vinyl is smooth and you’re just covering it because it’s ugly, you can probably get away with it. If it’s got grooves, you probably can’t, unless the new vinyl has the exact same pattern and is installed so that the grooves match up exactly (and how likely is that?!). — There is no distinctly native American criminal class except Congress. – Mark Twain
Response:
>In >one case, they want to remove the existing flooring and put down new >underlayment and the flooring, increasing the cost quite a bit. The >other place is quite happy to put it on top of what is there now.
I’ve had quotes for the same. One issue on pulling up the old vinyl might be asbestos (sp?). Would depend on how old the existing vinyl is.
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