What Is the Best Glue to Use for Linoleum?
Unlike wood flooring, linoleum provides a tough, soft, and durable flooring surface. It is also suitable for the high-traffic areas of your home as it is resistant to wear and tear. Sheets of linoleum are sold at home improvement stores along with the materials needed to ensure a soft flooring underfoot. Also, make sure to use the recommended adhesive to hold the linoleum sheets in place. This post will help you determine which is the best Linoleum Glue to use.
Linoleum Vs. Vinyl
Most people often use the term linoleum to refer to both actual linoleum and sheet vinyl, but this should not be so. Although both are tough, true linoleum is made from jute, oil, and several natural products, making it an eco-friendly option to artificial vinyl.
Do You Need Glue at All?
First, you need to determine whether you really need to use glue at all. This is because Vinyl plank flooring usually has a click-and-lock design. The edges are designed to adjoin together without the use of an adhesive. Moreover, there are some self-adhesive vinyl flooring that requires you to expose the sticky surface at the back by removing the film covering and firmly fixing it onto the sub-floor. For awkwardly shaped floors, it is advisable to have some extra glue in addition to the self-adhesive floor tiles to ensure the tiles are fixed firmly and securely.
Types of Glue
Since you are now sure you require glue for your project, the next step is to determine the best glue to buy:
Plant-Based Adhesives
If you plan to go for the eco-friendly linoleum, you should use low or zero Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) adhesives. These plant-based adhesives indicate that they emit minimal amounts of indoor pollutants. Examples of plant-based adhesives include; natural rubber glue, rye flour paste, natural resin glue, and cellulose glue.
Water-Based Glue
Water-based glues often have low volatile organic compounds, hence do not affect the air quality in your home. Most people often prefer them as they are much easier to clean and less damaging when compared to other types of glue. The main downside with water-based glue is that its bond weakens when exposed to high moisture levels. Going for other glue options is advisable if your children or pets often spill liquids on the floor.
Polyurethane Based Glue
Polyurethane-based glue products are the perfect choice for fixing wooden floors. This glue has low levels of VOCs and contains a substance known as isocyanate dissolved in a solvent. It is also suitable for installing vinyl flooring tiles.
Acrylic Based Glue
Acrylic-based glue works perfectly with vinyl and is resistant to extreme temperature and moisture changes. Since they are made from resin, they have the same low level of VOCs as polyurethane-based glues. The main disadvantage with acrylic-based glue is that they are costly.
Other Adhesives
There are different types of adhesive that can be used for installing linoleum flooring. A good example is the generically labeled “linoleum adhesive” glue ideal for installing linoleum flooring tiles. You can also opt for other suitable linoleum flooring adhesives such as acrylate glue, wood glue (also PVA glue), and EVA glue, also called Ethylene Vinyl Acetate glue.
No Glue Required
There is one type of linoleum flooring that does not require any glue for installation. They contain tongue-and-groove boards that, when placed on the floor, bond together to form a solid floor above the initial floor. During installation, these boards are nailed at the end into the baseboard to enable the firm-fitting torque-and-groove boards to support the subfloor. Moreover, such linoleum floors often look like wood planks but do not have the continuous care and maintenance of wood.
Precautions
It is advisable to determine when the original linoleum flooring was installed before replacing it with a new linoleum flooring. For example, if the linoleum flooring was installed between the 1920s and 1980s, it might have asbestos in the adhesive. Since breaking up the asbestos into its natural fibers can pose a health hazard, make sure to consult a professional to help you remove this outdated linoleum flooring.
Fixing Linoleum Floors
If you happen to notice your linoleum flooring having curling edges, you should worry, as this might not imply that the flooring is damaged. Curling edges on your linoleum flooring can be caused by exposure to moisture or loss of adhesion that can cause the edges to peel away from the floor. If the linoleum flooring is still in good condition, you should not replace it but instead, flatten the curling edges with some affordable supplies available in your local hardware store.
Things You Will Need
Below are some of the items you will need to fix your linoleum floors:
- Weights
- Putty knife
- Vinyl flooring adhesive
- Broom and dustpan
- Damp rag
- Brayer or rolling pin
- Plastic scraper
- Hairdryer
Steps
- Aim the hairdryer at the curved linoleum floor for 1-2 minutes to render it slightly more flexible.
- Once the subfloor is exposed, use a plastic scraper to get rid of the debris. Thoroughly brush dust into a dust bin or use a vacuum cleaner. If the linoleum subfloor is damp due to exposure to moisture, you should leave it to air-dry for some days before continuing.
- With a putty knife, evenly spread a coat of flooring adhesive onto the bottom of the linoleum flooring. Flatten the floor and use the brayer or rolling pin to roll It down and ensure it is more secure.
- Use the damp rag to wipe any excess glue from underneath the edge of the linoleum floor. Place weights such as two-by-four weights or phone books on top of the linoleum.
- Leave the adhesive to rest overnight, and remove the weights.
Conclusion
Once the Linoleum glue is firmly set, carefully apply silicone calk along the edge of the linoleum floor, especially if it is in an area filled with moisture. This will help prevent exposing the subfloor to moisture, leading to further peeling and damage. You can also consider placing baseboards along the wall around the area to prevent your linoleum floor from having curls at the edges. Finally, make sure to keenly follow the manufacturer’s instructions when handling their products and follow the safety precautions.
You can also read:
- What is Resin Glue and What is it Used for?
- How to Remove Gorilla Glue From any Surface
- How to Remove Dried Glue From a Mirror
- The Five Different Types of Fireproof Insulation Materials
- What is a Slab Basement and Do You Need One?
