Linoleum Floor Makeover

LESLIE: Time to help Grace in Michigan fix up a floor-painting project. What can do we for you?

GRACE: I live in a 108-year-old house and the linoleum in my room is really old and I was wondering if you would be able to paint it with wall paint.

TOM: No, because it’s not really – first, two things. First of all, linoleum doesn’t really take any type of paint very well and wall paint, of course, you’d never really be able to use it; it would just wear right off. You’re better off going out and perhaps picking up some vinyl remnants that you could buy at a home center or a flooring store – these are the cutoff pieces; sort of the end of the roll – and putting down some new flooring.

GRACE: OK.

TOM: That’s probably the least expensive way to go.

LESLIE: You know what else you could do, Grace? You could head to the home improvement center and buy some canvas drop cloths – the ones that have, you know a nice, plastic backing or a rubber backing. And you can finish the edges just by using some carpet tape to give it a nice, smooth edge. Then, you can prime that whole piece of canvas and paint it to look like a rug. This way you have like a fun area rug.

GRACE: OK. Thank you.

TOM: You’re welcome. Thanks so much for calling us at 888-MONEY-PIT.