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Suppose the linoleum floor in your kitchen is worn out and damaged. In that case, you should probably think towards the line of replacing linoleum with tile in the kitchen.
Ceramic tiles are increasingly being installed in kitchens, bathrooms, and other areas where water or spills are expected because they are low-maintenance and moisture-resistant.
To replace linoleum with tile in the kitchen, first, use a floor scraper to pry up the linoleum, then level out the subfloor before laying the new tiles with adhesive.
Sounds quite easy, right? Fortunately, this project can be completed over the course of a weekend once you get down to business.
Replacing Linoleum with Tile in Kitchen
Below is a step-to-step procedure on replacing linoleum with tile in the kitchen. Let’s get to it, shall we?
Step 1: Get the Needed Supplies
Fortunately, you don’t need a lot of specialized equipment to replace linoleum with tile in the kitchen except for a tile cutter.
If you can’t get a tile cutter, then a utility knife will still do the job, although a tile cutter works quicker and makes straighter cuts. You can buy or rent tile cutters at your local home improvement center.
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Below are the basic supplies and equipment you need:
- Replacement tile
- Vinyl tile cutter/utility knife
- Measurement tape
- Vinyl tile adhesive
- Grout
- Grout floater
- Vinyl roller
- Scraper
- Sponge
- Bucket of warm water
Step 2: Remove the Linoleum with a Floor Scraper
Once you have gathered all the equipment and supplies, you can get to the task of removing the linoleum floor.
If a linoleum tile is missing from the floor, you can start by inserting the scraper from that tile adjacent to it, prying that tile up.
If there is no missing linoleum tile, use a utility knife to score the tile along the seam until you get to the underlayment.
Then, you can insert the scraper and carefully begin to pry up the damaged tile. Be careful so you don’t damage any of the surrounding tiles in the process.
Once you have removed a linoleum tile, you can then continue using the floor scraper to pry up the remaining worn-out linoleum floor.
Step 3: Clean the Sub-Floor
Once the worn-out linoleum tiles are removed, you will have removed the remaining adhesive, glue residue, or pieces of tile that didn’t come up.
To do this, use a wet sponge to scrub the area to loosen up the adhesive and residue. After this, use the scraper to remove some stubborn debris until the surface is flat and smooth.
Use a vacuum cleaner or broom to clean up any loose particles.
Step 4: Level Out the Sub Floor
Sometimes the subfloor might be ridden with cracks and holes. You will need to fix these damages before moving on to the next step.
Use a patching compound to fix up these holes and cracks. If the subfloor is still uneven, use a self-leveling concrete mix to level out the floor before proceeding with tile installation.
Step 5: Get the Room’s Measurement
Before you get to installing the new tiles, you need to make sure that the new tiles will be sufficient.
Use a tape to measure the room to ascertain if you’ve enough tiles.
To be on the safer side, add 5 percent to the actual square footage to account for damaged tiles or installation/cutting mistakes.
Step 6: Cut the Replacement Tiles into Desired Sizes (Optional)
If You want the tiles to be smaller, you can use a saw or tile cutter to get the desired size.
This sounds like too much work, so you should probably skip it.
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Step 7: Lay the Tiles
Now it’s time to lay the tiles, provided that the sub-floor is free from any dirt or tile particles.
You can start with using a trowel to spread out the new adhesive making sure that the adhesive is uniformed and leveled on the surface.
Once this is ascertained, lay the new tile onto the adhesive and press firmly.
To get rid of any air bubbles, use a small, heavy roller to press the tile until it is flat.
Ensure that the seams are together. If they are not, use a seam adhesive to keep them from curling up and form a barrier for protection from water.
Step 8: Apply Grout
Give the adhesive about 24 hours to set before applying the grout.
Applying grout is self-directory. Follow the instruction in the grout package to mix and apply with a putty knife.
The grout mixture should be thick so that it will stick easily to your putty knife and tiles.
Use the grout float to spread out the grout before forcing it into the cracks and crevices of the tiles.
Wipe away excess grout from the tiles using a damp sponge.
Give the grout about 24 hours, then apply a grout seal, using a paintbrush for best results.
Step 9: Thorough Cleaning
You will still have some stains and debris no matter how careful you are with the new tile installation.
Give your new tiles a thorough cleaning with safe cleaning products.
Conclusion
So you see, replacing linoleum with tile in the kitchen doesn’t sound so difficult now, does it?.
Once you have the needed supplies and a buck load of determination, you can complete this project within the weekend.
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