How to Lay Linoleum in a Bathroom
Linoleum is a good choice for bathroom flooring because of its water-resistant properties. Since linoleum generally comes in large sheets, it's also one of the simpler flooring types to install, making it an ideal option for homeowners who want to do it themselves. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Sandpaper
- Level
- Chalk
- Wood filler or leveling compound
- Putty knife
- Broom or vacuum
- Wet rag
- Towel
- Waterproof membrane or liquid rubber
- Linoleum sheets or tiles
- Utility knife
Instructions
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1
Turn off the water to the bathroom and remove fixtures from the bathroom floor, including toilets, removable sinks and vents. Pull up any flooring that is installed over the subfloor and sand off any adhesive left behind by the old flooring.
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2
Set a builder's level down about an inch from the wall in one corner of the bathroom. Move the level across the floor 1 to 2 inches at a time, checking for dips beneath the level. Mark dips with chalk.
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3
Fill all dips that you find in the floor's surface with wood filler if the subfloor is wood, or with leveling compound if the subfloor is concrete. Smooth the compound with a putty knife so that it is even with the floor's surface and let the compound dry for four to five hours. Use the level to check the floor again and sand down any high spots created by filling in the dips.
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4
Clean the floor thoroughly. Sweep or vacuum standing dust from the floor's surface and then wipe the floor down with a wet rag. Dry the floor with a towel or allow to air dry fully.
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5
Lay a waterproof membrane over the floor's surface, smoothing out the membrane as much as possible and pressing the membrane edges into the corners of the floor. Remove the adhesive backing from the membrane to stick it to the subfloor. Alternately, spread liquid rubber over the floor according to the instructions on the packaging to waterproof the floor's surface.
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6
Roll out a sheet of linoleum over the bathroom floor. Press the linoleum into the corners at the edges and cut along the corners with a utility knife to cut the linoleum to size. If you have linoleum tiles, lay the tiles out over the floor's surface.
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7
Cut out holes in the linoleum for any holes in the floor, such as the holes for the toilet and sinks. Slice into the linoleum in the center of the hole in the floor and cut outward toward the edges. Leave approximately 1/4 inch of linoleum overhanging the edges of each hole in the floor.
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8
Spread linoleum adhesive on the back of the linoleum sheeting or tiles. Press the sheeting or tiles down against the floor, putting pressure on the linoleum for 30 seconds in each area to make sure the linoleum sticks.
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9
Return all of the fixtures to the bathroom and turn the water back on. Caulk around the edges of the linoleum where the linoleum meets fixtures, like the toilet, sink and bathtub.
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