Old Laminate floor what should i do?

sleepyjane · 02-20-2009, 05:09 PM

We are in the process of choosing a new flooring underneath our carpet looks like old laminate from the 60's? Should i rip this all up or just recover it we have been thinking of hardwood and im sure it's better to rip up just wanted to make sure. Did they install this kind of flooring with a glue or was it like the new laminate where it clicks together?

Scuba_Dave · 02-20-2009, 07:26 PM

If you are putting in hardwood I'd remove it
Do you know what you have for a sub-floor?
Does it feel like the floor moves a little up & down?
If that's the case it locks together

But if it doesn't it could be glued or nailed
If its glue you may need to put down another sub-floor to level it off
In that case it might be a good idea to go right over it
Somebody who does flooring might be able to give you a better idea

Is there any small area you could pull up & look at?

Mudd · 02-20-2009, 09:04 PM

If it's truly from 40-odd years ago, then it's not laminate...

You're probably dealing with some sort of wood flooring.

If you're on a slab, it's most likely glued. If you're on a wooden subfloor, it's probably stapled/nailed.

Watch out! Old glues, especially black tarry looking stuff, often contains asbestos.

nolan · 02-21-2009, 10:13 AM

If the laminate was installed in the 1960's it may contain asbestos, and therefore should not be removed. I would lay the new floor over it.

onlinehandyman · 02-21-2009, 11:38 AM

I completely agree with Mudd - if it's that old it's not laminate. It may contain asbestos and probably is best off buried, but make sure that it is stable first, meaning not moving and nothing flaking from the top or the bottom.

rusty baker · 02-21-2009, 12:55 PM

Does it look like small blocks going different directions? If so, it is probably parquet. It the 60's and 70's it was usually installed with an asbestos based (black cutback type) adhesive. In the 80's, a latex-based multi-purpose was normally used.

sleepyjane · 02-26-2009, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scuba_Dave

If you are putting in hardwood I'd remove it
Do you know what you have for a sub-floor?
Does it feel like the floor moves a little up & down?
If that's the case it locks together

But if it doesn't it could be glued or nailed
If its glue you may need to put down another sub-floor to level it off
In that case it might be a good idea to go right over it
Somebody who does flooring might be able to give you a better idea

Is there any small area you could pull up & look at?

There is by the heat ducts but it seems pretty stuck down. If it start to rip it up and it is glued. Then i would lay a new sub floor how would i level it though if it's already uneven due to the spots that are worn. Would i almost shim it where its really low??? im not sure.

sleepyjane · 02-26-2009, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mudd

If it's truly from 40-odd years ago, then it's not laminate...

You're probably dealing with some sort of wood flooring.

If you're on a slab, it's most likely glued. If you're on a wooden subfloor, it's probably stapled/nailed.

Watch out! Old glues, especially black tarry looking stuff, often contains asbestos.

Oh good to know i didnt even think of that. Yeah it's a wood subfloor right now. The floor really feels plasticy...maybe some old floor is like that im not sure but they told us it's from the early 70's.

sleepyjane · 02-26-2009, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onlinehandyman

I completely agree with Mudd - if it's that old it's not laminate. It may contain asbestos and probably is best off buried, but make sure that it is stable first, meaning not moving and nothing flaking from the top or the bottom.

Okay maybe i will do that. I never even thought of asbestos. Thats scary. And it would cost alot of money to get it removed properly....oh boy what am i getting myself into.

Floorwizard · 02-26-2009, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nolan

If the laminate was installed in the 1960's it may contain asbestos, and therefore should not be removed. I would lay the new floor over it.

You obviously do not know what the old floor is.
So why suggest to lay over it when your not sure if it can be.

Wow.

It would be nice to find out exactly what the old floor is first....then offer a suggestion.

Maybe a picture?

26yrsinflooring · 02-26-2009, 07:55 PM

with florwizard

sleepyjane · 03-03-2009, 11:48 AM

I will try and get a good picture. Not the most computer literate so will try to figure it out.It definetely is not parquet. It looks like long strips of laminate with fake wood grain. It feels like the tile floor they put in older school cafeterias that is glued down with the black tar stuff.