When you purchase a good grade of linoleum to be installed as a floor
in your living-room, dining-room, or even in the kitchen or bathroom,
naturally you desire to have it put down as a permanent floor. The
most satisfactory way to install linoleum is to cement it down solidly
over a lining of builders’ deadening felt paper. This will give you a
permanent floor, smooth, firm, without cracks or crevices. Owing to the
variations in moisture conditions, any wood underflooring will expand
in summer and dry out in winter, leaving cracks. Linoleum cannot be
cemented directly to such a wood underflooring without possibility of
damage. One of the chief advantages of the felt lining is that it tends
to take up this expansion and contraction, thus saving the linoleum
floor from breaking or cracking. In addition, the felt acts as a
cushion, deadening sound and adding to the warmth and comfort of the
floor, making it delightful to walk or stand on.
Should it become necessary, in time, to remove such a linoleum floor,
this can be done easily, without damage to the linoleum.
[Sidenote: Laying Linoleum Over Felt Paper]
Leading contract linoleum layers and good stores have adopted the
felt paper method of laying linoleum and recommend its use to their
customers. A brief description is given here of this method in order
that you may understand how the work should be done. If your merchant
is not yet equipped to lay linoleum by this method, ask him to write
for a copy of our linoleum layers’ handbook, “Detailed Directions for
Laying and Caring for Linoleum,” which lists all of the materials and
equipment needed, and includes illustrations showing the several steps
in laying linoleum by this improved method. A copy of this handbook
will also be sent to you, without charge, upon request.
In cementing linoleum down over felt paper, the felt is first cut into
lengths to go across the short way of the room. The quarter-round floor
molding is removed, and the felt fitted snugly at each end. A linoleum
paste is then applied to the undersurface of the felt, which is then
rolled or pressed down until it adheres firmly to the floor.
The lengths of the linoleum are next pressed in position crosswise to
the direction of the felt strips, or the long way of the room. One
piece is laid at a time. The surface of the felt under each strip of
linoleum is well coated with paste, except for four to six inches along
each end and side and along the seams, which spaces are left bare. The
linoleum is put down and rolled. After the paste has begun to dry, the
free edges of the linoleum are trimmed to fit neatly at all points.
Then waterproof linoleum cement (a kind of glue) is applied to the felt
along all edges and seams back under the linoleum for a distance of
four to six inches. This cement makes the floor perfectly water-tight.
Finally, the linoleum is well rolled with a heavy roller to insure
perfect adhesion at all points.
Weights, such as face brick or sand bags, are placed against each other
lengthwise along all edges and seams to press the linoleum firmly
against the felt while the cement dries. After twenty-four hours, the
bricks are removed; and the floor is ready for use. The molding is
put back into place, and the floor is cleaned thoroughly. If plain or
inlaid linoleum has been laid, it should be waxed at once and polished.