DIY lino - do I have to remove skirting boards?

greensalad

As part of trying to "refresh" rooms in our house on a budget ahead of possible future full renovations, I've decided to tackle our en suite and make it looks nicer. 

One thing I am keen to get rid of is the lino, and replace it with... well another lino but in a less hideous pattern than metallic silver faux mosaic. Found some cheap lino that I like instead. 

The en suite is not used as a proper bathroom, so I'm not super worried about it being perfect and watertight in every corner. I use the loo and wash my face in there but as it only had a bath tub in it and neither me nor my partner use baths (prefer showers) the only person who bathes in there on rare occasion is the dog.

I figured laying lino seems like a fairly simple DIY job. Rip up existing, get rid of any lumpy bits leftover, reglue and lay down, right?

Looking into tutorials it looks like they all suggest removing the skirting boards. Agh. I really don't want to. Every bloody project in this house has lead to removing skirting boards and although I am now a dab-hand at putting them in after doing a 14-edged-room... I'd still rather not. Also for the cost, even though three new skirting boards wouldn't cost much it's still a cost on my budget reno. I don't think I'll be able to get them off the wall without damaging them so I don't think I can reuse.

So my question is... do I have to? Is it going to look crap unless I do? Could I add some silicone or that sticky back stuff around the base if there is a gap?

Martin_the_Unjust

No you don’t have too as long as you are happy to accept it probably won’t look as good.


……the dog won’t care, will you or your partner?

Soot2006

I didn't bother, I did a super tidy silicon line instead. No, it's not "perfect" and I'll probably do it differently when I win the lottery and renovate my new mansion, but in my bungalow it's just fine. I honestly stopped seeing it after about 2 days and, to be honest, there are other imperfections here that are worse offenses lol.

ThisIsWeird

Hi 'salad.

My least fav job - how the heck do pros get the cutting so neat? :-(

But I did a couple of these for friends/family members over the past year, and finished both off using white sili and a Fugi (type) rubber tool. Choose a nice 45o bevel of the required size, lay the bead of sili, and drag this along - you will not believe what a terrific finish it gives.

If you find a 'holiday' - a section where you didn't put enough sili down so it goes under the tool without being touched - then apply a further thin bead on top, go back a foot before this section and gently position the tool so it doesn't actually touch the just-done ok part, and begin to move it towards the part to be redone. As you approach, keep it moving steadily and apply a little more pressure to the tool so that it gently lands on the finished bead and then continue it on its way over the bit you added extra to - it should all blend in perfectly.

It needs confidence - you just need to go for it! Don't panic. Have plenty of paper towel handy. Try and figure out the right amount of sili to put down - not too much, not too little. Too much means constantly wiping away the excess from your tool. Too little means having to stop, add a bit more, and start again - but that should be fine. Just be aware of the 'skinning' time for sili.

First do a dry-run of the lengths you are doing - make sure then are no obstacles, and that the rubber blade runs smoothly along the two surfaces.

Oh, and watch lots of YouTube videos!

greensalad

That's good to know. I'm pretty confident with my silicone skills!

Oh and just to add... I do not wash my face in the toilet! 

greensalad

ThisIsWeird said:

Hi 'salad.

My least fav job - how the heck do pros get the cutting so neat? :-(

But I did a couple of these for friends/family members over the past year, and finished both off using white sili and a Fugi (type) rubber tool. Choose a nice 45o bevel of the required size, lay the bead of sili, and drag this along - you will not believe what a terrific finish it gives.

If you find a 'holiday' - a section where you didn't put enough sili down so it goes under the tool without being touched - then apply a further thin bead on top, go back a foot before this section and gently position the tool so it doesn't actually touch the just-done ok part, and begin to move it towards the part to be redone. As you approach, keep it moving steadily and apply a little more pressure to the tool so that it gently lands on the finished bead and then continue it on its way over the bit you added extra to - it should all blend in perfectly.

It needs confidence - you just need to go for it! Don't panic. Have plenty of paper towel handy. Try and figure out the right amount of sili to put down - not too much, not too little. Too much means constantly wiping away the excess from your tool. Too little means having to stop, add a bit more, and start again - but that should be fine. Just be aware of the 'skinning' time for sili.

First do a dry-run of the lengths you are doing - make sure then are no obstacles, and that the rubber blade runs smoothly along the two surfaces.

Oh, and watch lots of YouTube videos!

Thanks, that tool looks perfect. I use a similar type caulking tool. I've probably caulked every window frame in this house so I think I'm pretty good at it by now!

JohnJ76

taking skirting off for a bit of lino in a room you barely use and you'll eventually redo - nah!  try and take the old the piece up in one go, cut round it as a template on the new piece with maybe a few extra mm all round, then lay the new one in place trim up (or if there is a gap thick enough i used the back of a knife to just tuck the excess under the skirting, run a bead of silicone round -doesnt have to be white/grey - if the skirting/lino joint is neat just run clear silicone round and you dont have to worry about it being perfect. done and onto the next job!

Bigphil1474

We had our kitchen re-lino'd a few months ago, and the fitter was able to get the new lino under the skirting where the old lino had been. We were only after a cheap quick job to improve on what we had, so worked out fine without removing skirts.

housebuyer143

Laying lino was actually one of my harder jobs I have done. It isn't pliable and getting it into corners and around the toilet was horrible! 
I would happily pay someone £50 to do it for me next time. 

It does look good though now it is done, but it isn't remotely fun. I filled all the gaps (i.e mistakes) with white silicone and it hides a lot of sins lol

greensalad

housebuyer143 said:

Laying lino was actually one of my harder jobs I have done. It isn't pliable and getting it into corners and around the toilet was horrible! 
I would happily pay someone £50 to do it for me next time. 

It does look good though now it is done, but it isn't remotely fun. I filled all the gaps (i.e mistakes) with white silicone and it hides a lot of sins lol

Interesting. I was hoping to do the suggested template based on my current one if I can get it up in one!

mi-key

greensalad said:

housebuyer143 said:

Laying lino was actually one of my harder jobs I have done. It isn't pliable and getting it into corners and around the toilet was horrible! 
I would happily pay someone £50 to do it for me next time. 

It does look good though now it is done, but it isn't remotely fun. I filled all the gaps (i.e mistakes) with white silicone and it hides a lot of sins lol

Interesting. I was hoping to do the suggested template based on my current one if I can get it up in one!

Have you looked at the LVT vinyl flooring that comes as self adhesive planks? Is much easier to lay as you do a small bit at a time ( the main area takes minutes ) and you only need to trim the 'planks' where they go up against the edges along two walls. You can even take up the old lino in pieces and use just the bit you need as a template.

Comes in loads of nice finishes as well and is pretty hardwearing. It's also cheap ! I did a 3x3m room for less than £60