"tar" Backing Paper
HI. We took up the old linoleum in a bathroom we are rehabing. There seems to be a "tar" backing paper stuck to the hardwood floor. We tried sanding it off, but it just cloge up the sander. The bathroom is very small (5x8) Has anyone delt with this tar stuff before and did you get it removed of just put something over it? Thanks
Kim :-?
I have done this hundreds of times. Go over it.
Dave
The tar / felt paper is used as a vapor barrier. If you are putting a new floor down then you may want to put a new vapor barrier over it depending on what type of floor you are laying down.
NC
Thanks for the responses. Since it is such a small room I think we are going to put down that click together wooden floor, it is an old house and it will make the bathroom look good with the existing claw foot tub.
Kim
Kasm
You don't say in your post whether you intend to sell this house or keep it to rent it out. If you plan on renting it out, I would suggest you don't use that click together flooring. In a bath, if water gets at the substrate portion of this product, you will be replacing it again shortly. Either way, it isn't a product I would consider using in a bath.
Dave
You are right, I did not think of that. We are new to this rehabbing thing. I have laminate in my bathrooms, however that is me and I am obsessed with cleaning, not everyone is. What about the 12x12 sticky back squares? Do they usually hold up pretty well in rentals?
After the rehab we may sell the property, we bought it for 25k and other homes are going for around 40 in the neighborhood. We will have about 1500 in it when finished with new carpeting etc. Or we can rent it out for about 475/mo+util. We were thinking of holding on to it for a while to avoid short term capital gains. We paid all cash except for 6000 which my parents loaned us (0 interest loan for 2 1/2 years) we will pay them 200 month.
Thanks for the information, we dont want to make too many mistakes our first time out.
Kim
Congratulations Kim on your deal. The secret to real wealth in real estate is to hang onto your property. Although holding each property may not always be the right thing to do, you are wise to consider it.
Those 12X12 stick tiles are easy to work with and look good if laid correctly. Unforetunately, they will not hold up for many years in a bathroom as water and dirt gets into the seams. Dispite that I would use them in a low end house. If you sell the house they will look good because they are new. If you keep it and rent it out and they look bad in a couple years, who cares. They were cheap and easy to put in and they will be the same to replace.
[addsig]
Go back with linoleum, lasts forever, looks decent, and is fairly cheap. If the floor's messy underneath it, put down some thin hardboard on top of it all, and just put the linoleum on top. (assuming adding those couple of layers don't make it too thick, that is...)
Kasm
In this house, I would recommend sheet goods (linoleum). You can get a good price on it, it will wear better and leave you with the least amount of concerns, regardless of your exit strategy. You probably have glued laminate flooring in your bath. That stands a much better chance of survival than the snap lock stuff.
Dave
Hey,
A sheet of vinyl flooring is the best answer...but I have always found them to be a serious pain to put in. This would be very true in a small bathroom as you have to make cuts for the toilet, sink/cabinet, tub, etc.
I would go with the 12 x 12 squares. Buy a good heavy one and seal the subfloor (prime it) before installation. They are easy to work with, if you take your time the joints will be fairly tight. Buy enough to do the floor 2 times; that way you can replace tiles for a long time. If you are going to buy more houses; use the same tiles in each house.
Put luan down over tar substance and go with good 12" vinyl block tile seal around fixtures with caulk will last along time.
Ed
Thanks for all of the great tips!
Kim
Been a landlord for 8 years. I have had to replace the vinyl twice in 5 years on one property(Initial buy & fix and then after previous renter failed to call about water leak in bathroom). Leave tar paper, add another layer if patchy, 1/4" luaan/hardboard and then sheet vinyl for bath. I just put in the no-glue for the first time and waiting to see if it holds up. I know it will be easier to repair when needed than the older glue down versions. I use the 12" squares for kitchens - not as much water as bathrooms in lower end properties.
If the tile (glue down) is used over concrete floor it holds up pretty good. I have however replaced many many floors where it was used otherwise. I say go with linoleum it is more durable and provides more protection for the bath especially if you use cove base and seal it..
[addsig]
But you DO want to pull that toilet! You go trying to pu in 1/4' underlayment and then cutting in your vinyl flooring around the fixture you'll do twice the work and it will never look good. Pullin and re-setting the toilet is key, and it's not that hard (come back in with a new wax ring), and you'll be surprised how it forces you to clean that thing really good before you begin.
lol
Oh yeah, for sheet vinyl, buy a "remnant." Save tons of $$ and can get excellent pieces. Call all the flooring stores and ask what they've got. They sell their roll cut-offs.