How to Remove Linoleum Tiles
Sticky-backed linoleum tile doesn't look nearly as tough or permanent as ceramic---until you try to remove it. The glue on the back of linoleum sets with age while the tiles get hard and brittle, so they're apt to break apart as you try to pull them up. One solution is to heat the tiles with a heat gun (it looks and works like a standard hair dryer but is hotter) purchased at your local hardware store to soften the tiles so you can scrape them up. However, be careful not to heat more than is necessary to get them up, as that could just make the tile set even harder. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Heat gun
- Heavy-duty scraper with a long handle (made for floor removal)
- Power belt sander
- 60-grit sandpaper
Instructions
-
-
1
Starting anywhere on the floor, aim your heat gun at a few tiles, and turn on the air and heat to full. Hold the gun about a foot from the tile, and let it work for about two minutes.
-
2
Immediately wedge a scraper between two of the tiles (right on the line between them), and begin prying them up. Then move quickly to the adjacent tiles as well (be sure it is those you have preheated).
-
-
3
If the tile starts stiffening, breaking or just failing to come up, stop the scraping and blast the area with the heat gun for another two minutes until the tiles soften and bend and the glue comes up.
-
4
Once all the tiles are up, let the floor cool, then go back over it with a belt sander and 60-grit sandpaper to take up the remaining glue from the floor.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Make sure the work area is well-ventilated, as the heating of tiles and glue will create fumes.
References
- Photo Credit http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?id=100371401&jspStoreDir=hdus&catalogId=10053&marketID=401&productId=100371401&locStoreNum=8125&langId=-1&linktype=product&storeId=10051&ddkey=THDSiteMap
