How clean should plywood subfloor be for sheet vinyl flooring?

Question

I am replacing the sheet vinyl flooring in my bathroom. I removed the old sheet vinyl floor, and have been prepping my plywood subfloor. The old vinyl sheet left behind some paper backing and glue. Most of it is gone, but I'm now left with tiny spots or patches where the glue just won't come off. In the process I have nicked the subfloor, shaved off very thin layers by scraping too hard, etc. Can the new vinyl floor sheet (full glue) be applied over it, or does the subfloor have to be 100% free of adhesive residue? I'd say it's about 95% free, with a few tiny spots where it just won't come off. I've been using scraper, etc. I know I can fill in nicks and imperfections with trowel and filler, but what about the small patches of glue? Can they be left behind? The new sheet vinyl is textured with a eggshell/duller finish. Not shiny. Thanks.

Zardoz · Accepted Answer

No oils, no lumps. A bit of dust may actually be beneficial as a lubricant to floating floor installation.




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Anonymous · Answer

Easy fix!  Rather than spending hours trying to clean off the old paper and glue apply a layer of 3/16" or 1/4" luan plywood.  Staple the heck out of it and wipe joint compound over the seams if any.  Keep the seams in areas where they won't telegraph through.(like under a vanity or under a closet door)

Now your new sheet vinyl will lay nice and flat.

OR.......after you clean the old paper and glue as much as possible you can use a grouted laminate tile without applying a new sub-floor.  These tile are vinyl or composite and are about 3/16" thick and are applied with a tile trowel.  After the tile are in place you go over the grout joints with a pliable vinyl floor grout just as you would with ceramic tile.  Cleans up with water and your new laminate floor will look and feel just like tile.

DeWALT · Answer

"the book" tells you 80% of it needs to be removed.  If it were me, I would sand off the high spots of glue, cutting the chunks of glue up into little squares with a knife helps before scraping.  Now go out and buy a liquid latex sealer, probably in the floor section, a flooring warehouse will have it for sure.  Roll it on the entire floor with a 3/8" paint roller, this will seal the floor so no discoloration or adhesive complications occur, and most importantly, if there are any bad spots in the sub floor(de-lamination) those spots will bubble up after the moisture has evaporated from the latex, and you can cut them out and replace them before the new floor goes in.  (@T...the typical contractor answer...put in something different/spend more money. lol)

Anonymous · Answer

if the remaining glue spots are that solid, use a power sander to wear them down so that you do not have any raised points. you will kick yourself if you leave them in as the lighting may enhance a tiny spot and if they are larger they will look ugly. if in the process of sanding they soften up, then scape them off. You can get away with a bit of dust, but would recommend wiping whole area down with white spirit before glue application.

gordon1212 · Answer

Its amazing how over time any small imperfection will show through so i would sand and fill any spots just to be sure ,also it will be more noticeable if you have sunshine reflecting from a window  so  you may not notice at first. It will bug you if you don't do it right

? · Answer

the quality of any floor depends on what is underneath.  if you don't get everything done right with the base, you will be VERY unhappy.

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How clean should plywood subfloor be for sheet vinyl flooring?

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