My Linoleum Is Peeling Up

Probable Causes

• Linoleum is a hardy, reliable flooring material, but the glue used to hold it to the subfloor is sometimes not so strong, especially after several years or decades of wear. Weakly adhered flooring will peel and curl in the areas around the flooring’s perimeter. Repeated exposure to moisture can also weaken the cork in linoleum, creating less strong flooring that is more apt to curl.

Repairing Peeling Linoleum

• Often, peeling linoleum requires only requires you to reattach the curling sections to the subfloor. Objects you already have in your home, such as a hair dryer and set of heavy books, can do all the hard work for you. Heat the area with a heat gun or a hair dryer set to its warmest setting. This will reactivate the glue on the back of the linoleum and allow you to reattach the tile or sheeting to the subfloor. Add extra latex adhesive with a pointed trowel if the reactivated glue does not have enough adhesive. Place a stack of heavy books on the area overnight to ensure the linoleum sticks well..

Removing Peeling Linoleum

• If your efforts to straighten the curled linoleum were not successful, your next option is to cut away and replace the offending sections. If you have leftover linoleum remnants from the flooring’s installation, use those; otherwise, try to find a close match. As a last resort, remove a similarly sized section of linoleum from an area that’s always covered, such as under a major appliance or inside a closet, and patch the peeling section with it. To remove a section of linoleum, heat the linoleum to loosen the glue, then peel back the section completely and cut it away with a sharp utility knife.

Covering Up

• If you can’t pull up or repair your linoleum due to rental limitations or other concerns, your best bet is to cover up the offending area. Place a heavy or vinyl rug over the area, and anchor the peeling section to the ground with a piece of furniture. Since peeling often occurs around the perimeter of the room, you could cut away the offending linoleum and cover the areas with carpet floor tiles, creating a border effect. Covering your peeling linoleum will prevent peeling acceleration from continued traffic, and will also hide the unattractive section of flooring from view.