Linoleum is considered the most popular finishing material. It is used both in residential and industrial premises. This topcoat suits every budget and comes in a wide range. As a result, you do not have to think about the nuances of design. Any material has its drawbacks. Linoleum is soft in structure, so after a long period of operation it can go in waves. Incorrect storage causes kinks and more.
But it's not so tragic. Any question is easy to solve even at home. How to smooth linoleum after bending? It is worth taking any of the instructions below as a basis and acting strictly on it. Situations are different, after laying and before it. Therefore, the issue has to be resolved until the linoleum is fixed.
Can it be aligned after fixing?
How to smooth linoleum if it is already on the floor? Before you startwork, you will have to understand for what reason irregularities and defects appeared. If the floor material has been in a roll state for a long time, it must be given time to rest on a solid plane - over time it will take the correct position. If this does not happen, then you need to resort to a mechanical method of exposure. There are special rollers in construction tools, with their help the task is quickly solved.
Handy tools
But there are simpler methods:
- Often the surface of such a finish swells, wrinkles appear. You can use simple metal balls, they are rolled over the surface. The procedure is simple - movements from the edges to the center and in the opposite direction. Thus, the surface is easily leveled. But before you smooth out the linoleum, you need to prepare these balls.
- Use a thick needle. This is a simple and proven method used by many masters. It turns out that smoothing the waves on linoleum is not so difficult. In the place where it swells, you need to gently pierce with a needle. This allows air to escape. Further, any heavy object is fixed to this place. The finish layer is not resistant to squeezing, so you need to put on a shock absorber or something soft on the load.
- Using an iron. There is an effect of such a procedure, but you need to act carefully, through any canvas. When the surface warms up, a sheet of plywood is laid on it. But for cheap models, this method is not suitable. The surface must be thick, otherwiseit will just stretch.
- Rubber heating pad. It is filled with hot water, placed on the problem area. The effect will be noticeable if it is a small error. Since the heating pad becomes heavy with water, this is a method of warming and pressing.
To understand how to smooth linoleum, you need to check whether it was glued to the floor or not. When it is fixed only on the baseboard, the coating is dismantled and the entire surface is re-tensioned. After this procedure, cutting will be required. Skirting boards are fixed in place, and the floor becomes even.
Which methods are equally effective?
As a rule, repair and construction work related to flooring is always associated with some difficulties in the form of irregularities and defects. However, the most pressing problem in this process is still the formation of waves on the floor. How to smooth linoleum, why is this happening? Unfortunately, this situation occurs more often than others. This happens for various reasons - the furniture was moved, it was exploited for a long time, etc. If the coating is new, then it is easier to solve the problem. Linoleum is left unfolded for a couple of days under pressure, after which the problem will be solved.
When that doesn't help, you'll have to heat it up, load it up. It happens that this procedure does not work. The most unpleasant methods are to cut into strips, lay neatly on top of each other and add extra weight on top.
When that fails, heat is added to the load. Before smoothing outwaves of linoleum on the floor, it is worthwhile to understand that each procedure must be carried out under control so that the situation does not worsen. When weights are placed on top, the base must be solid (any wood will do).
Situations are different. Often, after gluing the flooring to the floor, a large bubble appears. In this case, you will have to cut the surface crosswise. After that, the air is removed, the size is measured, the pieces of linoleum are glued back. When each minor repair procedure is done carefully, it will not be noticeable. How to smooth out wrinkles on linoleum? When the base is fixed with glue, the elimination of deformations is done with a syringe and a needle. Glue is carefully inserted inside, pressed down well and left for several days.
Kink detected, what to do?
If linoleum is sold not in rolls, but rolled up, then kinks appear on it. Some begin to deal with the problem of how to smooth linoleum on the floor, already in the process of the procedure itself. However, laying should not be done in this form, otherwise you will have to smooth out the defects of the already fixed topcoat. Sometimes such a problem also arises during roll storage - they put something, crushed it. When the material is purchased in a twist, it recovers and becomes even in a couple of days.
Experts believe that even at home, excesses are removed. There are several ways. This refers to how to smooth new linoleum:
- The new material on a roll is rolled around the room it is intended for. Edges exactlyclipped, otherwise waves will form. Nothing is put on it, it is allowed to walk. So it will lie for three days - and you can fix it. You can use skirting boards, double-sided tape, glue for fixing. Everything is in stores.
- The material is laid out, and a sheet of plywood is installed on top, there will be no bends under it. The perimeter of the linoleum must be cut evenly.
- Sand is poured into containers and placed on the surface. But they do it in such a way that dents do not turn out under pressure.
- When linoleum breaks, it can only be glued together. To do this, the material is leveled, the air is expelled and the linoleum is fixed on the adhesive composition.
Hair dryer
You can also remove the bend with a simple hair dryer. The surface is exposed to a hot air stream for 30 minutes. But sometimes this method has the opposite effect - the wave grows. Heat brings effect in working with such a finishing material, but the air must be dry.
Recovery at home
It happens that all the methods have already been completed, but the desired effect is not observed - everything is the same on the half of the wave. How to smooth linoleum in this case? You can try to stretch the surface. Such a procedure is not easy, but it is suitable for coating regardless of thickness. At the same time, accuracy is a prerequisite, otherwise the material will simply tear.
Steps
What actions do:
- The material is spread in the room, cut with a slight gap (15 millimeters from the walls).
- Leave for 3 days for alignment. If it increases insize, it is re-cut with a gap.
- One side is fixed with a plinth, depending on where there are kinks.
- A board is laid along the perimeter, but without any gaps and screws, so as not to damage the surface of the coating. It is good to wrap with any fabric on top.
- After that, any cargo is installed.
- Next you need to move this design, carefully pulling out the material.
Therefore, before you smooth out the caked linoleum, you will have to prepare everything and think over every step. Do not work when the room is cold. When heated, the coating stretches more easily and takes on the desired shape.
Linoleum is the most demanded finishing material for today. Manufacturers create unique colors and patterns. If it is not thick, then its price is 600 rubles per meter. A lot depends on the chosen width. It is mainly stored and transported in rolls. But even when buying it in this state, you can not immediately begin fixing to the floor. It should lie down for at least two days. Skirting boards are used for fixing. You can't just screw it on - it will quickly break through and bubble up.
Floor work
After purchase, the material is unfolded and left to straighten. It is not worth saving time, especially if a finish with a thick top layer is chosen. When the canvas does not have a large thickening, it is enough for a full straightening of about 6-7 hours. There are enough techniques - experts believe that it will always be possible to achieve the desired effect.
When there is no time to wait a day or more, you candeal with other suggestions:
- To do this, twist it in the opposite direction. It is necessary to spread around the perimeter and begin the procedure, while paying attention to dents and kinks so that they turn in the opposite direction.
- One side is fixed under the plinth, after which the chopping block is taken and dragged along those places where the kinks are visible. This is done slowly and carefully: they reached the wall, fixed it. This is done up and down.
- Hot water is taken, poured onto the surface of the inflection. Then smoothing in different directions begins with frequent movements. But there is a risk of blistering in this procedure, so be careful.
Such methods help to make linoleum quickly even and attach it to the surface. There is also a professional recommendation on how to smooth out a crease on linoleum - you need to create a warm microclimate in the room. When the finish on the floor is completed, you need to remove the formed minor bubbles and excess glue. This helps not only to create a smooth surface before laying, but also to correct existing shortcomings.
This process is performed using a roller. It is important to smooth out from the center to the edges, gradually and slowly. The whole process is performed several times. If you carefully do each step, as the masters recommend, then you will get the result quickly.
Finishing done, how to remove defects?
Often things need to be done in a short amount of time. How to quickly smooth linoleum? Dopoor-quality styling can not only people without experience, but also masters. What to do in such a situation? Most often, bubbles and waves form. If they are not removed, then the linoleum will quickly wear out and will have to be completely dismantled.
The first step is to remove the air from the existing bubbles. To do this, take a thick needle, an awl, a narrow screwdriver. After that, the air is carefully released, smoothed, pressed by the load. Sometimes the glue will be hard on the inside. Then it will not work to make the surface even. How to act in such a situation? To restore an even coating, you need to introduce a special solvent inside. When the uplift is manifested not by one small bubble, but along the entire perimeter, then the only way out is complete dismantling.
It is believed that the most convenient way is to store such a floor covering in rolls. But if this happens for a long time, then waves can be observed after installation. Even after he stood for a couple of days, you can not make the surface even. The method of piling up the surface will help. For this, anything is taken. It is quite possible to choose a sandbag or cement.
Can linoleum be smoothed?
In order not to solve the problem of how to smooth out dents on linoleum after laying the coating, it is important to follow the basic requirements for preparing the base. This will allow you to correctly fix it on the surface. It is necessary to make a flat area and completely remove dust and dirt. Wood floors should be well sanded. On concrete, cavities and cracks are removed with putty. Further, any surface is treated with a primer. You also need to know that it takes time to dry. Only after performing such procedures is it allowed to lay the finish coating.
If after the purchase you do not let the linoleum lie down, you will have to solve the problem with creases, swellings and other irregularities already on the fixed surface. However, not everyone has time to wait. There are many methods for creating the perfect surface, you just have to choose the right one.
Before you smooth the linoleum on the floor after the bend, you need to prepare sand, bags. This method is rarely used today, because the sand needs to be heated, and for many this is problematic. Using cold bulk material will not work.
It is necessary to measure the desired size, spread it in the room, after which a bag of hot sand is placed on the kink. It is left for half an hour, after which you can fix the coating.
But it's not easy to heat that amount of sand. It is not always possible to acquire a full-fledged piece of coverage for the entire surface of the room. In such a situation, you will have to deal with docking. This process has its own small features, they have to be taken into account.
How to connect linoleum?
One of the methods is overlap, but also the material must be aged, or you can use any available method for leveling. After that, pieces and butt sides are laid out in the room. Then they are fixed. To do this, various options are used, the simplest is the use of adhesive tape.
Not everyone likes to see where two canvases meet. Therefore, it is recommended to use welding of two canvases - there is a cold one and a hot one. The first is the simplest, because glue is taken as the basis. For new linoleum, it has a liquid consistency and simply sticks together. When you have to renew an already exploited coating, then you should give preference to a denser mass.
In order for the process to happen quickly, you will have to prepare everything you need:
- Scotch.
- Sharp knife.
- Personal protective equipment.
- Welding machine.
In order to avoid problems during fixation, the seam is degreased and all dust is removed. Next, apply tape. A cut is made on it with a sharp knife. It will be filled with glue. After 40-50 minutes, the adhesive tape is removed, if there are drops on the surface, they are carefully removed.
Another way to fix it is with simple soldering irons. They are quite suitable for connecting two parts. But this method is irrelevant for too thick canvases. In addition, it is worth finding a sharp sting to guide them along the joint, otherwise it will not be possible to achieve the desired effect. To do this, the unit warms up as much as possible in order to bring the edges of the material to the desired state and quickly connect.
Inability to work with a soldering iron can lead to serious damage to the blade itself. So not everyone will be able to cope with such a task on their own. How is this process done in production? They have at workmultiple devices - hot air, cords, special welding devices, etc.
Can be glued on
Most often, the floor covering is fixed on the prepared surface with glue. This is the easiest option, and everyone can handle it. Before this, the linoleum is smoothed and leveled over the area. When the room is small, then the adhesive base in the form of adhesive tape or a plinth acts as a fastener.
If the room is more than 30 square meters, then mastic, special glue, a leveling roller and a brush are taken. Sometimes the mixture is spread with a spatula. The linoleum manufacturer always gives useful recommendations for fastening - you should not deviate much from them. Application is done pointwise, in stripes or over the entire surface. But it is worth making a small layer so that after drying the mass does not form bumps.
What's next?
Next, it is important to expel all the air from the inside so that bubbles do not form. Otherwise, you will have to look for a method to create a perfectly flat surface.
Today, a large number of various linoleums are being sold. But before you get the right one, you should know how to fix it and how to deal with shortcomings. This is easily done by hand. Do not rush and immediately fix it - let it mature and take its permanent shape. If there is no time, then it can be helped a little by heating.
