Hey everyone! I recently became a homeowner and have been diving into some renovations. Our main bathroom is currently out of commission due to a leak we're trying to fix, and we're figuring out whether to do a full overhaul or just make it livable for now. In the meantime, I'm focused on our ensuite bathroom, which has some seriously outdated flooring. I've ripped up the old, crusty linoleum, but I'm left with some stubborn paper backing and some mildew in the subfloor. My plan is to lay down a waterproofing membrane and stick on some laminate tiles for a quick fix. Here's my question: Can I lay the membrane and tiles over the remaining paper backing, or do I need to remove it all first? I'd love to save time if it's safe to proceed with the tiles without scraping off every bit of that old paper. Thanks for your help! Oh, and here's a peek at how terrible everything looks! [Image Links]
2 Answers
Have you thought about going with floating LVP flooring instead? You wouldn't have to deal with scraping off all that paper! Plus, if you decide to renovate later, it’ll be easier to work with since you can just move the planks around or add more if needed.
You might not need the waterproof membrane unless there’s a leak from the shower pan. It seems like the previous owners just didn’t clean up spills properly. A little caulk at the seams where your new flooring meets the shower should do the trick. Just make sure to clean up any water outside that area after showers. Also, watch out for old flooring materials—they might contain asbestos. You can get a simple DIY test kit from Amazon for that. I'd recommend going for LVP instead; it’s affordable and looks way better without the hassle of extra cleanup now.
Thanks for the info! Thankfully, this is the only room with old flooring, and I’ll definitely check for asbestos before doing too much. I think I’ll stick with my moments and do proper caulking around the shower!
Good point! My main concern is cost since those sticky tiles are only 99 cents per square foot. But I see what you mean about the ease with LVP.