OT: installing flooring.

chucklez

chucklez

Active member
Taking a long shot but I don't know if any of you guys are flooring experts or even stayed at a Holiday Inn last night. This weekend I am putting bamboo flooring down in my living room and kitchen. Living room is carpet which is not going to be a problem pulling up. Question I have is the sheet vinyl in the kitchen. The guy I have helping me has done flooring Before. He suggests keep the sheet vinyl along with the quarter inch plywood underlayment in the kitchen and we will just put the half inch bamboo flooring right over top of it. We will bevel sand and level with putty the transition. I almost want to remove the sheet vinyl but he said it will be a pain in the *** for me to do that. I am doing all prep work before he gets there. So has anyone removed sheet vinyl flooring? Difficult?

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Luan Or however it's spelled is what I've used, it's like 1/8th inch plywood. That's depending on how many floors are down also
 
It's a pain but do it. If you don't you will curse every time you hit your toe or trip over that seemingly unnoticeable bevel. It's worth taking the time to remove it.
 
Schplitter said:
It's a pain but do it. If you don't you will curse every time you hit your toe or trip over that seemingly unnoticeable bevel. It's worth taking the time to remove it.
Click to expand...
It's a total PITA, but he's right. It's a sticky mess, at least any time i've done it.
A heat gun will be your best friend, and open your windows. Send the wife and (if any) kids out for the afternoon. They don't need to be around that stuff while you rip it up, and you're not going to want to have to deal with them while you rip it up.
 
Do I need to take I seen a video on YouTube with a guy that used a saw to cut strips and then pried up the flooring

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My experience is that its better to get the floors level with as little filling and sanding as possible. I have installed many types of flooring. In my house I will be tearing out the flooring until I reach the subfloor. The end result is a nicer finish that you will be happy with. One time I took the easy way and left the flooring and went over the existing flooring. It looked ok, but I would have been happier if there was not a transition to deal with. Also, remove your baseboards and reinstall them. Whoever did my house installed marble tile up to the baseboards. When I remodeled my master bathroom, it was a PITA to remove the baseboards without breaking the tile.


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Last time i did it was for my father-in-law's brother. I didn't cut the floor into strips, I figured it would just be that much more crap I had to clean up. I just started working it from a spot where it wanted to cooperate, used a 3 inch scraper to get it going, then grabbed a small pry bar in each hand, and started working them under while someone else warmed up the flooring ahead.
Over. And over. And over....
Sometimes we would get a nice run, but usually was in foot square pieces. But the flooring was probably 30 years old, and installed over finished hardwood. Then they put down finished hardwood over original hardwood.....:facepalm:
 
You gotta love remodeling someone else's remodeling.

I tend to agree with Popcorn about getting down to the subfloor. You might find that there's already a 1/4" layer of luan under the vinyl.

While you've got it down to the subfloor, take the time to locate and fix all the squeaks in the floor. I just laid 1000' of bamboo upstairs and have located a few places that I should have fixed before I started putting the floor down. Now it's too late. Don't rush it. Take your time and do it right.
 
First off let me say I REALLY REALLY HATE VOICE TO TEXT! That and I need to get into the habit of re-reading my texts before sending them.

I was talking with the wife last night and I decided that I am going to pull the vinyl sheeting plywood off the subfloor. I am guessing the ply I am referring to is called luan? Either way, I plan to remove it all to fix any squeaks that has developed. Just not sure exactly how I am going to be getting under the cabinets. If I remember correctly the laid the entire floor then put the cabinets down. So I guess I will be needing to break out the mighty sawsall.

Thanks for the tips guys.
 
I wouldn't use a sawsall. Unless you're really good with your sawsall and can get that close to the kick plate without damaging it, buy or borrow an oscillating tool and use that instead. You'll get right up to the cabinets with no worries about having to fix or replace the kick plate because your saw tore it up.

I'm not sure if you have a Harbor Freight close to you, but we have one from them that I paid like $20 for and we use it constantly.
 
EDJFA said:
I wouldn't use a sawsall. Unless you're really good with your sawsall and can get that close to the kick plate without damaging it, buy or borrow an oscillating tool and use that instead. You'll get right up to the cabinets with no worries about having to fix or replace the kick plate because your saw tore it up.

I'm not sure if you have a Harbor Freight close to you, but we have one from them that I paid like $20 for and we use it constantly.
Click to expand...


Which blade do you use? Mine wear out incredibly fast.
 
I just buy the cheap ones at Harbor Freight. I've tried the slightly more expensive ones from Lowes, but they don't seem to last any longer.

I've not tried the Rockwell or Dewalt blades. Maybe they'd last a little bit longer, but I don't feel like paying two or three times the price to find out.
 
Well the vinyl and Luan is up for the most part. Had to run to home Depot and rent a toe kick saw. And yes, there was a metric **** ton of staples in it. I'm just pounding them flat and will put down a floor padding. Now tomorrow I need to do the carpet and Friday begin install


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