How to lay linoleum on a concrete floor with your own hands

Self-repair of an apartment is a big, painstaking work, requiring the owners not only financial investments, but also experience. Not every owner of his own apartment knows how to properly lay linoleum on a concrete floor, what tools are needed for this, and what to pay attention to when laying. Our article will help answer all these questions, as well as give additional tips for those who want to create a perfectly even coverage for many years.

Create a flat, smooth base surface

Everyone knows that linoleum is an elastic material that can repeat any part of the floor. If it has a tubercle or protrusion, linoleum is sure to repeat all these shortcomings and spoil the whole picture of the repair just done. However, aesthetics in this case is not the main thing - due to the fact that linoleum spreads on a too rough, rough, uneven surface, it stretches and quickly loses its original characteristics. If you want to lay linoleum not for one or two years, but for at least 5-7 years, you need to carefully prepare the base - the concrete floor.

Some people, from one phrase - leveling the floor, are trembling. “How can I level the floor if it’s already level?” - Some people think naively. Everyone is starting to imagine big bags of sand and cement, dirt, dust and a complete mess in the whole house. However, in fact, the alignment procedure does not provide the owners with any difficulties. As they say, eyes are afraid, but hands are doing!

To level the floor you will need the following tools:

• Master OK
• Reiki or metal profile
• Level, preferably two meters
• Grout spatula

There are two options for the alignment procedure:

• If the floor is sloping over the entire surface and has large tubercles
• If the concrete floor has deteriorated over time and dimples, grooves or other small defects are clearly visible on it.

The problems described in the first case can be caused by the unfair work of the construction company when building a house, in the second case only time is to blame. Of course, by the number of works, the first option requires more time, money and experience, however, even a bear is taught to ride a bicycle, and only a person can do it!

Level the entire floor with a cement screed.
If you are going to lay linoleum, and the concrete floor spoils your mood with its unevenness, it is not necessary to contact the masters. Buy a special cement composition (it is sold in 20 or 50 kg bags) and get to work.

Before starting the procedure itself, it is necessary to note the plane in accordance with which the screed will be made. It is difficult to vertically make such markings, but you can use the walls. Mark a line on one wall, then continue to work perpendicularly - as a result, you should get a surface that is absolutely even along the walls. Next, mentally marking a square sector with sides of 50 cm, begin to fill there. Level with a trowel, work with a spatula, using the level, compare the resulting cement "puddle". If you notice that the solution is too loose, add a small amount of cement, and if cracks begin to appear immediately after solidification, add sand. In order to get a perfectly flat surface for laying linoleum, walk the trowel through the already prepared sector with neat, stroking movements - so you can prevent the occurrence of roughness and empty areas.

At this pace, constantly checking the indicated markings and level, continue to fill the entire floor surface. Remember that it will dry completely only after two or three days, so be patient and engage yourself in other useful work.

We restore the concrete base
If you notice only small defects on the floor and want to fix them, you need to purchase a small amount of cement screed. Made on the basis of cement, sand or other polymers, it fills the voids well and firmly connects to adjacent layers. This work is not as large as the previous one, but it also requires accuracy.

Prepare the solution in accordance with the recommendations indicated on the label and transfer it to a small bowl. Use a trowel or spatula to fill the voids in the concrete base, trim them from above. In order for the bulk screed to fit snugly against the edges and not crumble after a few days, carefully inspect the deformed area and completely remove all loose or broken layers. This procedure will help extend the shelf life of the new patch layer. If all the work has been done, allow the concrete floor to dry, for further laying of linoleum.

Choosing the right linoleum

Everyone knows that concrete is a building material that conducts heat well. Even if the temperature in your room is optimal for normal living, the floor will always be cold. In order to get rid of such a problem, you need to choose the right floor material. Today, there are three types of linoleum:

• Single layer
• On a felt basis
• Fabric based

The first type is the coldest, and is completely unsuitable for a living room with a concrete base. The second - is considered the best option for laying in a room with concrete floors. Felt retains heat, moreover, it is a kind of substrate, straightening some minor roughnesses. Fabric-based linoleum is also valued for laying on concrete, due to its inexpensive price and acceptable characteristics. If you are going to give the room not only an original and attractive design, but also strive to keep warm, we recommend staying on linoleum with a felt layer.

How to lay linoleum

At home, two types of linoleum laying are used:

• By gluing
• Using conventional stretching

Each owner selects his own version depending on preferences and financial means, however, laying on a concrete floor with gluing is considered more durable.

We put linoleum in the room
In stores, linoleum is sold on a roll - so it is convenient not only to transport it, but also to lay it on a prepared surface. The roll, immediately after being brought in from the street, should rest a little at room temperature. Next, it must be installed right next to the wall and opened. In the process, you may need a cutter or scissors. Due to the fact that linoleum in this case spreads without gluing, it can be adjusted for a more even and accurate styling. If swelling is noticeable, put a heavy load on them and leave it there for 2-3 days. After all the activities associated with linoleum flooring, you can install skirting boards, hiding the gaps between the wall.

We lay linoleum with rubber bitumen mastic
The second option is more dreary, but in this case, the shelf life of linoleum increases immediately by several years. It is customary to use bituminous mastic as an adhesive base - it adheres well to the floor and practically does not emit any harmful substances. In order for the gluing process of linoleum to go smoothly, without any special problems, you must immediately position the roll right next to the wall.The roll must be folded face-down inward so that mastic can be applied to the inner layer. Apply glue with small strokes, gently opening the roll, smoothing the glued cladding material with a roller. If you notice air, put a load on this area or iron it thoroughly again. In order to dock linoleum, you will need special scissors that cut two adjacent layers at once. After fitting, the seams are fastened with mastic or special glue. After laying linoleum, the surface should dry for 2 days.

If you decide to lay linoleum on a concrete floor yourself, do not worry about the big problems with the alignment and gluing of a new facing material. Read the article carefully and get down to business!

Video: how to stack linoleum