Flooring help? Pulled up old linoleum and found tar paper...

[Mare Owner]

under that there is wood. The wood is stained and has tar on it from the tar paper, it was tar side down. It also kinda stinks like tar and plastic/linoleum!

(There was actually half a sheet of another linoleum on top of this and then a layer of carpet. This is our front entry, a very small area, size of a bathroom.)

I have a scrap piece of new linoleum to put down, but how do I get the tar paper residue off the wood? I can't just put the new over the top, the wood floor needs to be leveled a bit, few holes filled in...

[Farmerwilly2]

I wouldn't bother with it. Put down a piece of underlayment, the linoleum over that and call it finished.

[Spinner]

I'd rent a floor sander to get the tar up and level the floor. Then you'll want to seal the wood before laying new floor covering.

[Shygal]

You need to be very very careful with old linoleum and what is under it, most of it used to be made with asbestos.

[uncle Will in In.]

I vote with Farmer Willy. A sander don't work well in tar. You can buy 4x4 sheets of hardboard made for underlayment. Its only 1/4 inch thick. Quick easy long lasting fix. <>UNK

[Daddyof4]

Do Not Sand That Stuff Without Getting It Tested For Asbestos.

[RonM]

Put down underlaymnet and be sure to use underlaymnet nails, dont worry about the tar paper stains, that s the way we used to do it.. the underlaymnet will smooth out the base for the new material, and DONT use a sander on the rough boards.....

[Common Tator]

I had the same problem. I put new underlayment down on top of the linoleum. The old linoleum is still down there, and I don't care. The new underlayment made the floor nice and level and flat, where the wood under the linoleum was uneven with gaps, that wore through the linoleum.

[whocares]

head to the hardware store and find some ooops....it removes tar, I just took up my 8o's linoleum and ooops removed the tar from the tar paper...use just a bit at a time, you have to let it soak a bit...and then wipe it up quick with paper towels...worked for me

[Yvonne's hubby]

In a word.... Luan

[travlnusa]

If it really a small area, I suggest tearing out done to the floor joists, subfloor, and then whatever covering you desire.

Do it once, and have it done right. You will be happier.

[Mare Owner]

Decided to just put down the underlayment board on top of the old linoleum. Got an expert opinion from my father today as he was able to drive over, and he's going to do it for me.

Honestly, to do it right, I'd have to start from scratch and build a whole new house. But who can afford that?

Thanks everyone for the advice, I hadn't known about it being made with asbestos!