Hey everyone! While renovating my kitchen, I stumbled upon some old flooring beneath the current layer. I'm wondering whether I should take the old flooring out completely or just lay the new floor on top of it. Has anyone dealt with this before? Would love some tips! Here's a picture for reference: https://imgur.com/a/q6sCnp5
3 Answers
I had a similar situation where I opted to remove everything down to the subfloor. It was a bit of a hassle but worth it in the end to avoid a height mismatch with the other flooring in the house. If you're up for a bigger project while already renovating, it might be a good way to go!
That old flooring looks like it could be 12" stick tiles. They usually come up pretty easily, but you might end up with a sticky residue afterward. I'd say pull one up and see how it goes. If it's too much trouble, you can always glue it back down!
Be cautious about what’s underneath! If the old flooring is from before the 80s, it might have asbestos. Definitely get it tested first. In my case, I just sealed it up and went over the top, which was a safe option, but ripping it out could be the better choice if there's no asbestos. If you do find asbestos, it can cost a lot to remove properly, so weigh your options carefully.
Good point! But won't cutting it for testing risk spreading anything?