How to Remove Vinyl Flooring With Ammonia
Ammonia makes the removal of old vinyl flooring easier because it dissolves adhesive and breaks down vinyl. Vinyl tile and sheets require glue to adhere to concrete or plywood subfloors. Modern vinyl flooring often has adhesive preset on its underside. Older vinyl flooring, however, used separate adhesive that the installer laid down prior to placement of the vinyl. That separate adhesive makes the removal of vinyl flooring more difficult because following vinyl removal, a thick layer of glue remains on the subfloor. Ammonia aids not only the removal of vinyl, but also the removal of that extra layer of adhesive. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Rubber gloves
- Respirator
- Ammonia
- Spray bottle
- Plastic trash bag
- Duct tape
- Tarp
- Floor scraper
Instructions
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Put on rubber gloves and a respirator. Pour undiluted ammonia into a spray bottle.
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Starting at one corner of the vinyl floor, spray ammonia at the seam between the floor and wall. Place a plastic trash bag over the seam and secure it with duct tape.
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Wait one hour for the ammonia to sink in and remove the plastic bag. Lift the vinyl off the subfloor. Spray ammonia under the vinyl as you lift and expose the adhesive. Allow the ammonia to sit once again if you encounter areas that are difficult to remove.
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Spray the entire floor area after you remove all of the vinyl. Cover it with a tarp and wait one hour. Scrape the remaining adhesive off the floor with a floor scraper.
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References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
