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Vinyl flooring can often be left in place beneath newly installed laminate floors. How to tell when it has be removed?
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The Habitat-for-Humanity project-house kitchen BEFORE the renovation.
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The project kitchen AFTER the renovation.
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To old tile floor, BEFORE the upgrade.
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The kitchen floor AFTER the upgrade.
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Q: My vinyl floor looks terrible. I want to replace it with new laminate flooring. Do I have to remove the old floor before installing a new one? A: You might have to remove the old floor--it just depends on its condition. Here, home improvement pro Scott Branscom shows how to determine whether vinyl flooring can be left in place under new laminate or if it needs to be taken out. In this featured kitchen at the DIY Habitat for Humanity project house, Branscom also demonstrates the process for efficiently removing an existing vinyl floor and shares advice on selecting laminate. In a small, cramped kitchen like the one we're working in here, you might think flooring is the least of the problems; but it's actually a critical part of the renovation. This vinyl is worn and outdated, and definitely won't look good with new cabinetry and countertops. Most laminate flooring is made of three layers: the one that's walked on, followed by a layer with the pattern printed on it (usually a wood-grain look) and finally, the core layer, which is made from particle board. It's durable and resists scratching. But although wood-look planks are the most common laminate style, be careful placing laminate "wood" against real wood. If the laminate will be used in an area where it borders hardwood or parquet floors, the effect will be unattractive. Here, we've decided to go with stone-look laminate to better complement the adjacent parquet flooring. We've already evaluated the condition of our vinyl floor to determine that it will need to be taken out. In deciding whether a vinyl floor must be removed, look at its edges and seams: if no edges are torn and all seams are still in tact, the vinyl can stay in place; after all, no matter how hideous the pattern, it will be covered completely by the laminate! Do be sure to check that the existing floor is level before starting to install the new floor. To remove the vinyl here, we'll be using a razor-blade knife, a piece of PVC pipe and a floor scraper. (A floor scraper with a long handle allows for more force to be leveraged behind it, which can save a lot in the way of back strain.) The first step is to get on our hands and knees and cut the flooring into 12-inch wide strips. We pry up an end of one of the strips and wrap it around a length of PVC pipe. Then we simply roll the pipe along the length of the strip, wrapping the vinyl floor around it as we go. For stubborn strips that can't be removed this way, use the floor scraper to pry them up. For stubborn spots, spray the area with a mixture of warm water and dishwashing detergent. Once all vinyl is removed, sweep up any debris and you're ready to start installing your laminate according to the manufacturer's instructions.Next: Installing Vinyl Flooring
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