Although most owners, buyers and renters on Maui would like to forever erase the memory of linoleum tiles and linoleum sheet flooring from our minds, they can still be found in many Maui dwellings. Maui Now photo.
At one point in time, we’ve all seen them. Although most owners, buyers and renters on Maui would like to forever erase the memory of linoleum tiles and linoleum sheet flooring from our minds, they can still be found in many Maui dwellings.
For whatever reason (probably due to the low-cost factor), many residential property owners on Maui have installed that funky, 1970s linoleum flooring in their homes and ‘ohana rentals.
Not only are old linoleum floors unsightly, some may even have been placed with asbestos glue.
In that case, owners and renters should seek additional information about carefully removing and disposing of linoleum flooring that may be contaminated with asbestos.
If it’s not in your budget to completely redo your floors, check out this article on how to upgrade linoleum floors yourself by applying porch/floor paint.
Budget
The best-case scenario would be to remove your Maui linoleum floors and replace them with something really awesome, such as hardwood or laminate wood flooring. But, that is not always the case, considering a budget—especially if you are a renter.
If you follow this painting process, expect to drop around $120 on supplies for an 800-square-foot Maui ‘ohana.
What You Will Need
Preparation
The night before you begin this project, scan for any holes or scratches on your nasty linoleum floors.
Unfortunately, some linoleum is commonly covered up with carpet; once the carpet is removed, there will be old nail holes and lifted pieces of linoleum close to molding and door jams. Fill in these holes. Flex N Fill by Gardner is a widely recommended filler.
Step 1
The first thing you want to do is clear everything out of each room and vacuum your floors really well. After that, get ready for the most strenuous part of this DIY project; lightly sanding your floors with an orbital sander. The purpose here is not to sand the floors down—it is to remove the sheen on the linoleum and create a somewhat flat and even surface.
When sanding the floors, make sure to wear protective eyewear and a breathing mask over your face.
This process goes a lot faster with two people. One person should sand and the other should follow with a shop vacuum to suck up all of the fine dust that will inevitable get over everything.
After you finish sanding the floors, vacuum over it again to pick up all the leftover debris.
Step 2
Clean your floors with a degreasing cleaning agent. TSP works great here. You do not want to pour water over the floors and mop. You want something like a Swiffer mop to just lightly work over the floors. We suggest that you mix the TSP and put it in a spray bottle. After you clean the floors, let them completely dry.
Step 3
Tape off the edges near your floor molding, the start painting the trim of the room (cutting out) with a one-part epoxy primer. Maui Now photo
Now that your floors are as clean and dry as possible, you’re going to want to tape off the edges near your floor molding. After that, start painting the trim of the room (cutting out) with a one-part epoxy primer. A great product to choose is Gladden Professional “Gripper” Primer/Sealer. If you’re painting your floors a darker color, choose the grey primer.
After all edges are painted, start rolling out a solid (but, not too thick) layer of primer over the floors. Let dry for at least three hours.
By this point, your floors should already look dramatically better.
Step 4
A floor paint is suggested because it will resist scratches and scuffs best, and it’s durable and easy to clean. Maui Now photo
Now it’s time for the last step—painting your floors with a porch/floor paint. A floor paint is suggested because it will resist scratches and scuffs best, and it’s durable and easy to clean. If you’d prefer to use the same paint company as the primer, look into Glidden Home Depot Porch & Floor Paint.
After all edges are painted, start rolling out a solid (but, not too thick) layer of porch paint over the floors. Let dry for at least three to five hours.
Step 5
Your floors are pretty much done! Just be sure to check around for spots that may need a touch-up before you close up shop.
The End?
Of course, painting your nasty linoleum floors with porch paint doesn’t have to be the end-all to the beautification of your Maui home. It’s a great temporary fix, super easy to do and relatively quick, making way for more DIY projects.
Mahalo for reading Maui Now’s “DIY: Upgrade Linoleum Floors in Your Maui ‘Ohana” article.
Has anyone ever tried this? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below…
