Linoleum is a resilient and durable floor covering.
Linoleum is a green product developed over 150 years ago that homeowners enjoyed laying on their floors as a soft alternative to wood. Linoleum was popular in kitchens and bathrooms as glass objects were less likely to break when they fell, and it was waterproof. Vinyl flooring swept the country in the 1950s, and linoleum sales dropped until the population realized that the old linoleum was actually a natural product and better for the home and environment. Laying linoleum in the bathroom is one of the easiest floor coverings installations so long as your bathroom is small; larger rooms require a professional to make perfect seams.
Instructions
1. Remove everything from the floor of the bathroom, including the toilet if possible, and the baseboard trim. Sweep and clean the existing floor surface. Smooth out the surface of the subfloor by filling in any low spots with a floor-leveling compound. Use a 6-inch putty knife and smooth the compound level with the floor. Hammer down any nails, screws or staples so they sit just below the surface.
2. Make a template of the bathroom floor by dropping brown paper, taping sections together and cutting it out to match the perimeter of the room as well as any openings in the floor. Mark the direction of the template with a pencil so you cut the linoleum in the right direction.
3. Lay the template over the sheet of linoleum and use a little double-sided tape to hold it in place while you cut it. Use a sharp utility knife to slowly cut around the template until you have a perfect match to the floor.
4. Place the cut linoleum in the bathroom to make sure it fits before you start gluing. Trim any tight spots.
5. Roll up the linoleum, starting with the door side of the sheet so that the back end is the outer part of the roll.
6. Use a notched trowel to apply an even layer of floor adhesive to the floor from the wall farthest from the door to 2 feet out.
7. Place the back edge of the linoleum in place over the adhesive. Have a helper hold the linoleum roll while you finish laying more adhesive to the floor, working your way back to the door.
8. Roll out the floor with a 100-lb. roller starting from the center of the floor and working outwards.
9. Caulk around the toilet opening and along the tub/shower edge as well as the sink with a waterproof silicone caulk. Finish off the floor by caulking the perimeter of the room.
10. Seal the linoleum surface with a floor sealer, mopping it on according to the manufacturer's instructions. Dry for three hours.
11. Install the baseboards, the toilet and anything else you removed to install the floor.
12. Clean the linoleum with a damp mop using a mild soap for cleaning as necessary.
Tags: adhesive floor, direction template, floor working, linoleum bathroom, perimeter room, with floor