Posted by Dave Emond (205.188.198.167) on December 06, 2001 at 01:50:43:
In Reply to: I need help from the men on the board, before I get to hot and get a cluster! posted by Elaine on December 05, 2001 at 10:57:59:
Elaine!
STOP! Please e-mail me right away!
This is what I do for a living, and stop work immediately until we know just what you are really dealing with. If it is linoleum, you are going about this all wrong, sorry folks, but ALL information was incorrect and can cause serious health problems and is illegal in many communities.
Since you've gone this far, I can only hope that your floor is actually vinyl instead of linoleum.
Elaine, please write me right away and answer a few questions, then we'll go from there. I turned down a request not to long ago to be a moderator on a flooring forum board to dedicate my time to OUCH, so I assure you I can help.
No offense meant to those who responded, but if this is old linoleum, it will contain asbestos, and that's the last thing you want in the air from scraping and sanding. Plus, do NOT use solvents! (They soak into your floor and this will cause trouble ahead.)
Also: Regulations are strictly enforced in communities on removing linoleum.
So, first off Elaine:
Do you know or have a guess how long this floor has been down?
Do you know the difference between vinyl and linoleum? (Most vinyls are either solid vinyl through to the back, or will have a "paper" type backing. Linoleum will have a jute backing, that resembles the look of ... say burlap. It's actually a plant.)
God, I hope this is vinyl! Please write me and we'll find out, then I can walk you step by step through whatever it is you want to do with this floor.
A note for others: If your floor is linoleum and is down tight to the floor, go over it with new flooring, do not remove. If you have flooring questions, e-mail me at my business addy: Frontier Installation Technicians:
FITCOLORADO@aol.com
I will be more than happy to help tell you how to do-it-yourself, or advise you if you need a professional. Mention in the subject area of your e-mails OUCH, so I don't unintentionally delete the e-mail. (I only open e-mail in my business computer that I know where it comes from.)
Hope we're not too late, but I can probably help you fix any damages that are already underway. Give me as much info as you can Elaine, and I'll guide you through this,
Dave