Posted: 6/3/2005 1:33:58 PM EDT
| I pulled up the linolium in the kitchen and will put down tile. the question is do I have to get up all the linolium bottom residue up. When I pulled up the linolium the glue pulled a very thin portion of the bottom side of the linolium. Does this all have to come up when I get ready to adhere the tile to the floor |
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Just like a good paint job, the key to a good tile job is the underlying prep work. Rent the power scraper from Home Depot or Lowes and get the existing floor up. Or, you can lay down filler and then lay down your cement and tile, but you may end up with a significant difference in height between whatever type of flooring is going to be meeting with the tile. I'm no expert, but I've always gotten everything up before putting down tile. Remember the Alamo, and God Bless Texas... |
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Oh boy - this reminds me of the one project I will NEVER, EVER attempt to do again. I didn't pull up the existing vinyl after being told by some friends that they didn't bother to do so either. Modern thinset mortars are very good, and the floor has been down for quite a few years with no problem. Now that you've already pulled up the vinyl, you should make an effort to get all the glue off. Hot (very hot/boiling) water with detergent is supposed to soften the glue enough to allow you to scrape it up easier. |
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Mineral spirits will also bring up old glue. Do not do half ass prep work - the floor will lay on this surface and if it doesn't adhere properly will make some odd noises when you walk on it and will weaken the tile - if you're using Ceramic. I really can't tell if you using Ceramic tile or Vinyl tile squres from your intro. |
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Home Depot and Lowes sell large scrapers, that look like the smaller razor blade style on steroids. They have a large ball on one end, and you can get some serious muscle behind one. Last spring I did a small bathroom floor with ceramic tile, maybe 25 sq. ft., after attending a "How To" one Saturday morning. Over a year later, not a single crack in any of the grout, and no tiles came loose!!! The worse part was cutting the tiles, my darn machine had a loose roller pin where the cutting wheel mounts, and I broke many tiles badly when trying to "snap" the scored lines. I did not notice the cutting wheel was loose until AFTER my project, I just though it was a crappy tool. I had wanted to buy a more expensive one, but Rob the Depot dude insisted the least expensive one they sold was 100% adequate. I would get the next one up in price next time, and check the cutting wheel carefully. Now I'm looking at the old vinyl in our guest bath, about 50 sq. ft.,and wondering who I should PAY to lay the tile next time...(j/k) Actually, once the floor is scraped, the hard part is over. Laying the tiles themselves, and the grout process is fairly easy. As should be the tile cutting. Best of luck, pay attention to the directions for what you are using, and the project will be fun and rewarding. I doubt anyone else would have tiled mine any better. Paladin |