How to Replace Vinyl Tile With Laminate Flooring

Here's how to rip up old vinyl floor squares and install a new laminate wood floor. It's not a complicated project, but it does require a bit of hard work.

Materials and Tools:

pencil
tape measure
saw
carpenter's square
heavy-duty floor scraper
coping saw
vacuum
utility knife
pry bar
hammer
circular power saw
gloves
safety glasses
caulking gun and heavy-duty glue
laminate flooring and installation materials

Steps:

1. Use the heavy-duty floor scraper to remove the self-stick tiles. Keep a large garbage bag handy to collect the old tiles as you go.

2. Scrape the subfloor to remove any high spots of old adhesive. Vacuum up debris.

Figure C (click to enlarge)

3. Remove the existing baseboards and shoe molding from walls. Cut the paint line along the baseboards with a utility knife to avoid damaging the paint on the wall (figure C). Also, insert a piece of scrap cardboard between the pry bar and the wall.

4. Sweep away and vacuum up any debris so you have a nice clean, level surface to work with.

5. Prime the existing floor surface with a latex primer or other material according to the instructions for your new wood flooring.

Figure D (click to enlarge)

6. When the primer is dry, lay down the foam backing. Trim the backing in the corners with a utility knife so you have smooth, even, wall-to-wall coverage (figure D).

7. Cut and install transition pieces where the new flooring will transition to different surfaces such as carpet.

Figure F (click to enlarge)

8. Install the new wood flooring according to the manufacturer's instructions. Use spacers to keep the flooring about 1/2-inch from the wall to prevent buckling (figure F).

Figure H (click to enlarge)

9. If it's necessary to cut short pieces to fit the room, alternate which end of the room the short pieces go to create a symmetrical design. Tap the pieces into place by holding a piece of scrap wood against the edge of the boards and tapping with a hammer(figure F).

Figure I (click to enlarge)

10. Use the coping saw to cut pieces to fit around corners and in other tight areas (figure F).

11. Replace the baseboard moldings and shoe molding. Install new quarter-round molding for a more finished look and to hide any gaps between the new floor and baseboards.