Vinyl - floating floor or the old-fashioned stuff?

[jnlyn5]

have a 65 year old house with a combo of vinyl over wood and concrete (where a coal furnace was originally) that desperately needs new floor covering in the kitchen/laundry room. can see a few bumps through the current vinyl. would rather not have to lay a new subfloor to make sure everything is perfectly level (like had to do in an adjacent area where laminate was installed).
a friend recently laid Naturcor over wooden floors (in a 10 year old house) but on reading these forums, am wondering if that's a wise thing for me to consider especially with some of the comments about Flooring America. I do like the look of stone/tile/wood but want something that is functional.
any ideas or comments would be appreciated. house is pier/beam construction if that matters.

[Baylee]

jnlyn5 said have a 65 year old house with a combo of vinyl over wood and concrete (where a coal furnace was originally) that desperately needs new floor covering in the kitchen/laundry room. can see a few bumps through the current vinyl. would rather not have to lay a new subfloor to make sure everything is perfectly level (like had to do in an adjacent area where laminate was installed). a friend recently laid Naturcor over wooden floors (in a 10 year old house) but on reading these forums, am wondering if that's a wise thing for me to consider especially with some of the comments about Flooring America. I do like the look of stone/tile/wood but want something that is functional. any ideas or comments would be appreciated. house is pier/beam construction if that matters.

Vinyl flooring can be installed and it is very easy to install also. It enhances the look of the house. These floors are resistant to humidity and staining. If needed, people can without difficulty eliminate and put back their vinyl flooring again.

[mcbrides]

The floating vinyls, although needing less surface preparation than conventional sheetgoods, still have narrow tolerances for high and low spots; you mentioned bumps under your existing floor. The "old fashioned stuff", needs more surface preparation in order to glue to a smooth surface. Either way, it sounds like you really should sheet the existing area with 1/4 ply. Why do half the job; when done properly, it will perform beautifully for years to come?

[FlooringGirl]

mcbrides said The floating vinyls, although needing less surface preparation than conventional sheetgoods, still have narrow tolerances for high and low spots; you mentioned bumps under your existing floor. The "old fashioned stuff", needs more surface preparation in order to glue to a smooth surface. Either way, it sounds like you really should sheet the existing area with 1/4 ply. Why do half the job; when done properly, it will perform beautifully for years to come?

Deb is absolutely right - one of they selling points that is tooted on these fiberglass, etc. floors is the lack of requiring underlayment ... yet, the only time I suggest this not being done is if it is a solid vinyl surface which is properly skimcoated, or on an adequately prepared concrete slab.

Tia

[kwfloors]

[QUOTE=jnlyn5;89506]have a 65 year old house with a combo of vinyl over wood and concrete (where a coal furnace was originally) that desperately needs new floor covering in the kitchen/laundry room. can see a few bumps through the current vinyl.

That sounds like you have fasteners (nails,staples) coming up under your current vinyl. If you cover it with some new vinyl they could bump that up also. Your solution is a 1/4 ulay over it or go with some floating laminate or wood floor. Being a high water area, vinyl is the better choice.