Veneer strip floor

[Stevos]

Hi,

I recently moved into a new house with a type of wood floor that I haven't seen before. The previous owners noted that it was quite expensive when it was put in (quite a few years ago I think).

The floor covers probably about 35-40 square metres of the ground floor, through the living room, dining room, entrance hall, and toilet.

Untitled

• Stevos
• 14 Feb 2014
• 1

(sorry for the bad picture)

It appears that the surface layer is some kind of wood veneer with inlaid edging in a darker wood, but I'm not sure if it may be laid on top of some kind of vinyl, as it's warping (bubbling) upwards slightly in some areas - the bubbling bit seem to be confined to a couple of areas in the larger rooms, so it looks like the warping is in the layer or sheet the strips are affixed to rather than individual veneer strips. It's pretty cold to walk on, and I suspect that the base floor underneath is concrete, but haven't been able to confirm (and the surveyor refused to comment on it)

I'd like to replace it with something warmer and better looking, but probably can't afford to do the whole area, so was considering tackling the smaller rooms (toilet and entranceway) first.

Has anyone seen this kind of flooring before, or have any ideas what I'm likely to find if I start trying to pull it up, or any obvious pitfalls? I don't want to start digging holes in the floor until I have a reasonable idea of what I'm dealing with.

The smaller rooms don't have any signs of warping, so I've been wondering about whether it would be possible to lay something over this instead of ripping it up. It does seem fairly solid and doesn't show any signs of movement except the noted bubbling in the middle of the larger room.

Thanks
Stevos

 

[pinenot]

If it's solid wood, try sanding and sealing it first, you might get a suprise...pinenot

 

[ree]

If its wood, then it wouldn't be "bubbling, perhaps its some kind of vinyl effect.

Anyway, whatever it is you intend to replace it with whatever. Pics of these small room doorways please.

In the centre of the threshold (first lift any wood or metal actual threshhold piece), or door frame, to the small areas cut a line from jamb to jamb. Then work back into that small room area lifting the covering.

When the sub-floor or concrete slab is revealed then pic it and come back on here.

Keep in mind: any fixtures eg. a WC, or units or raising the FFL too much. Sometimes doors have to be removed.

Any flooring that shows signs of damp must be investigated and corrected. You cant just lay over it.

 

[dazlight]

It is Karndean flooring. Which is a luxury vinyl plank.
If you want to replace it you have to uplift it and prep the area.

 

[Stevos]

It is Karndean flooring. Which is a luxury vinyl plank.
If you want to replace it you have to uplift it and prep the area.

Many thanks for identifying it.

I have checked it again, and it is indeed vinyl - NOT wood veneer.

I'll have to leave it alone for the moment as finances are stretched, but I'll definitely rip it up and prepare the surface before laying anything else.

Thanks for the advice.