Paper It Fun!

I just received the following question last week, and thought I’d pass it on along with a thorough response…

“Can and how would you put the paper over linoleum. This is an old house and the linoleum is also behind the kitchen sink as the back splash.”

The following is a response from my husband who has worked in residential remodels/construction for almost 20 years…

Thank you for the good question. I would suggest getting down to the subsurface and not trying to Paper Illusion over linoleum, especially on the floor. The durability would be in question as linoleum is not very stable and will move around with traffic and temperature changes. The clear top coat would certainly fail sooner than later. This will leave a nice looking floor that will not last long enough to enjoy. That is money and time wasted.

If you must keep the linoleum, I would suggest having another layer of linoleum embossed by a professional installer that is well experienced with the proper materials and techniques. Barring that, I would remove the linoleum and get down to the substrate. Existing sheet goods that are rated for flooring such as plywood and wood composites are fine as long as they are installed properly. These must be cleaned and primed before installing the Paperillusion. Concrete or concrete based underlayments are the best and will afford the greatest durability.

If the removal of the linoleum may seem to be too much, please keep in mind the greatest value in any home improvement is achieved by doing the job correctly. It is important to do the job right the first time without costly shortcuts that only seem to save money.

With that being said, if you are willing to take a shot at your project without removing the linoleum, I would suggest to tackle the back splash. That may actually be a reasonable attempt. The key is to get a primer that sticks to the linoleum surface without rubbing off when dry. The better the primer sticks, the longer the Paper Illusions will stay put. Don’t forget a quality topcoat to ensure durability.

If anyone has had success with Paper Illusion over linoleum, please share your knowledge and experience with the community. I have never attempted this particular project but do have nearly 20 years of experience as a residential remodeling and construction contractor. I would, without a doubt, remove the linoleum. This is only based on general experience and is certainly not written in stone. I would appreciate any pros or cons from anyone who has worked on this particular type of project.

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