How to Take Up Linoleum Glue

Linoleum is prevalent in kitchens.

Recognized for its affordability, style variety and longevity, linoleum is prevalent in high-traffic areas of homes. Although tough and resilient, linoleum can acquire permanent stains, water damage, punctures and burns that make it aesthetically undesirable. Removal of damaged or outdated linoleum floors is often essential to enhancing a home's appearance or property value. Linoleum sheets are installed over spread adhesive glue, which becomes sticker with time. Removal of this sticky adhesive from a subfloor follows the removal of the linoleum sheeting.

Things You'll Need

• Bucket
• Rubber gloves
• Long-handled garden edger
• Hair dryer
• Broom
• Shop vacuum

Instructions

1. Pour boiling water onto a 2-by-2 foot section of the linoleum adhesive glue. Wear rubber gloves to protect against scalding. Let the adhesive absorb the boiling water for 20 minutes.

2. Scrape up the softened, wet adhesive glue using a long-handled garden edger. Long-handled garden edgers allow you to scrape while standing up, putting less strain of your back and legs.

3. Continue the linoleum glue removal procedure, focusing on one section at a time. Scrape off as much glue as possible.

4. Examine the subfloor for stubborn, lingering adhesive glue unaffected by the boiling water. If some patches of linoleum glue remain, heat the adhesive fragments with a hair dryer until they soften and scrape up using the garden edger. Remove the softened glue before it dries again.

5. Sweep up dry detached adhesive glue fragments from the subfloor with a broom. Vacuum up wet glue spots with a shop vacuum.

Tips & Warnings

• Substitute a putty knife for the long-handled garden edger.

• Soften extremely unyielding linoleum glue with chemical-based solvents such as isopropyl alcohol, paint stripper or lacquer thinner. Spot-test the solvent on the subfloor first and apply exactly as directed on the label.

• Never remove linoleum glue containing asbestos particles -- hire a certified, professional asbestos contractor.

• Excessive boiling water causes hardwood subfloors to warp. Try pouring the boiling water onto a bath towel and placing this over the glue.

References

• Service Magic: Linoleum Floors that Will Roll with the Punches
• Home Addition Plus; How to Remove Linoleum - Some Easy Guidelines; James McDonald
• "Old House Journal"; Removing Linoleum Adhesive; OHJ Staff