Q: I’d like to install an engineered hardwood floor over the linoleum in my kitchen. The flooring would also extend into the area between the kitchen and the next room; sort of a hallway. That area has a rise of about 1.5 to 2 inches over its 8 feet. How do I install the floor with this change in flatness?
A: This is actually fairly easy to account for with a bit of careful measure work. First off, you will want to ensure that this rise is nice and smooth, if it angles off at on end of the rise (top or bottom) you will simply need to account for this.
The flooring itself should be installed width-wise along the rise as this will make it much easier to account for the change in elevation. If the rise is nice and smooth the whole way it will make your installation fairly easy. Spend plenty of time dry racking out the boards in this area and use the measure twice before you cut once way of thinking.
Now, if your floor angles off at either side of the rise you can account for this in one of two ways. One method would be to smooth out the angle via grinding down (top of the rise) or by adding a bit of material to smooth out the angle (bottom side of rise).
The other way to account for angles would be to measure the area and cut an appropriate angle into the board which will sit over this area. Again, measure twice, cut once and dry rack the floor out carefully to ensure all of the joints marry up nicely. I would suggest beginning your installation at the board which will be cut as this will help to ensure each area of the rise marries up nicely and that the floor is installed to take the rise into account. Keep in mind, this will require a bit of work to properly map out the install so that you keep your floor installed nice and straight as it spreads out toward the rest of the walls.
Since you intend to install over your current linoleum my guess is that you will be floating this floor, if not, you will want to remove the linoleum and any remaining adhesive residue before beginning your installation.
