So you have decided you want to put in linoleum flooring. First decide if you want linoleum tiles or sheet linoleum. Once you have decided that, then you will know how to go about installing the flooring. Preparing the subfloor is the same for either method.
Items you will need
Linoleum flooring
Cement filler
Putty knife
Caulking
Utility Knife
Carpenter’s square
Chalk
Adhesive
100 pound roller
You need to decide if you are installing the new flooring over the old flooring. To help in this decision, take a look at the existing flooring. Is it loose; is it smooth all over with no paint drops on it? If it is not loose and is fully clean, then you can leave it in tact. If there are loose areas, you are better of to pull up the old flooring and just laying the linoleum over the subfloor.
Once you have your working surface, you will want to mix the cement filler to help create a smooth surface to lay the linoleum down on. Use your putty knife to apply the filler keeping it as smooth as possible. Once it dry, read the directions for recommended drying time, sand it until you have a smooth even surface.
Now if you are laying down tiles, you will want to mark where each tile is going to go. You can do this using chalk and a carpenter’s square. Make sure the angles are correct, generally it is 90 degrees. Once you have it all outlined, you are ready to lay down the tile. Apply the adhesive to the tile, and always make sure to follow the instructions of the manufacturer. Once you have the tile laid down use the 100 pound roller to make sure there is a good seal, and then move on to the next tile.
If you are laying down sheet linoleum, you will need to get exact measurements of your floor. Use these measurements to cut the linoleum so it fits your floor. Leave some excess so that you do not cut it to short. It is much easier to cut the excess as you are laying it down then trying to fix the areas you have cut too much from. Once it is cut by your measurements, lay it out and cut off any excess that might be left. You will want help with this part to ensure it is laid out correctly. Starting in one area of the room, lay out some adhesive, roll out some linoleum, lay out some more adhesive, and lay out some more linoleum. Keep up this process until it is all laid out. Then you will want to go over it with a roller to ensure there are no air bubbles and that there is a good seal to the subfloor.
Once the linoleum is installed, then go over it with the recommended sealer from the manufacturer. Now you can go around the edge and use caulking to seal the baseboard to the floor.
After you go through and make sure you have cleaned up any excess caulking, take a minute to step back and admire your work.
