So I bought some hardwood laminate flooring and I want to replace the lino in the kitchen. Some colleagues told me that I could just lay the hardwood laminate over the lino. No problem.

Is this right? I'd like to do the job right by removing the lino and putting in new subfloor before starting but that would be a hell of alot more work.

 

laying the laminate over the linoleum is possible. However, if you want to do it "right" and minimize problems you really should take up the lino. Depending on your base, you probably will not need a subfloor, just a membrane. Your local home improvement store/home center should have someone that can steer you right.

 

^^what HE said. Check with the local Home deprovement joint. I do know that taking UP the linoleum is preferred. From there, it depends. Just DON'T lay in over a slab on grade, meaning, poured cement on top of ground. Without knowing the situation where you intend to lay the floor, and knowledge of teh local building codes, offering anything other than basic advice is impossible.

 

put down the foam.

 

i have a steamer so i'm thinking i can remove the lino pretty easily (hopefully). i already have the foam roll to put between the subfloor and hardwood. some say that removing the lino by any other means could take off pieces of the subfloor because the lino glue is so strong.

 

You shouldn't need a membrane if it's a main floor with a basement underneath of you. Membrane is used for cement etc in a basement as far as I know. I'd be laying it over lino for sure. It will be fine and easy as pie.

Just make sure to spread the boxes out throughout the area and leave 'em to acclimatize or whatever for a few days. Leave the 1/4" gap all around, too... The people who did my basement figured they'd TRY to leave that gap, I guess? A few boards they did not... and those expanded and buckled. I got to fix it--yay for me!

 

damnit. $50 worth of membrane for nothing.

 

Meh... 50 isn't so bad. I spent over 200 on membrane as I was laying on concrete/subfloor in a basement. What I enjoyed was the 13 dollar rolls of tuck tape. Haha