Steaming off wallpaper above a laminate floor

[Mike P]

Am I right in assuming laminate flooring does not like water?

I have a wall where the paper has to be replaced and the flooring is laminate. Is it ok to use a steamer? I am concerned of the run off.

Mike P

[Lobster]

Um... so put a towel on the floor?

David

[Lurch]

On Fri, 25 May 2007 20:00:51 +0100, Mike P mused:

Do they not have dustsheets around your area, old bedsheets, curtains, towels etc.., anything remotely absorbant?

[Mike P]

.. >On Fri, 25 May 2007 20:00:51 +0100, Mike P mused: .. >

.. >>Am I right in assuming laminate flooring does not like water? .. >>

.. >>I have a wall where the paper has to be replaced and the flooring is .. >>laminate. .. >>Is it ok to use a steamer? I am concerned of the run off. .. >>

.. >Do they not have dustsheets around your area, old bedsheets, curtains, .. >towels etc.., anything remotely absorbant?

Fine .... I agree ... thanks for replies .... I just wondering if I had missed other ideas.

Mike P

[Owain]

A towel soaks up runoff but does itself get wet.

A binbag under the towel stops the wet towel lying against the laminate.

Charity shops can be a useful source of such things, if you find an old dear who looks like she loves animals and ask for any unsaleable items for doggy blankets.

Owain

[Dave]

I wouldn't go along with that, as the flooring will only get as wet as when it is mopped. Mind you, if you leave the wet towel on the floor, in the same place for some time, you might have a problem. It's getting water under it, that is the killer, as I found out last year, when the kitchen sink decided to leak very badly. You know you have a problem when the underlay makes that swishing noise and the boards have curled up on the edges.

Having said the above, I am assuming that you are stripping normal wall paper. If it is emulsion painted, or washable vinyl, the you could get enough run off water that could get under the flooring.

Good point there. Last time I wanted 'decorating sheets' i drove about

15 to 20 miles to buy some cotton remnants. It would have been cheaper to do as you say.

Dave

[Peter Ashby]

The sheds sell thin plastic dustsheets as well as the fabric ones. Put plastic under fabric and you are fine. Oh and provided you let the steamer get up a good head of steam and do it right, there shouldn't be too much run off. Get one of those things to score the wallpaper and use it lots first. Makes a big difference with vinyl papers.

Peter

[Stuart Noble]

IME the vinyl film peels off quite easily in strips, leaving just the backing paper to soak. Woodchip is about the only stuff I use the steamer on.

[Peter Ashby]

Ours could be taken off without but only up to a point in thin strips and with the steamer and knife it came of in large sheets. Much more efficient.

Peter