Here comes the more challenging task, the removal of the underlayment. If you pull too quickly, you might not be able to remove all of the topper. Remember, this isn’t a Brazilian wax where a quick yank does the job. Use your hands or pliers to slowly pull off the linoleum floor strips. Starting from the corner of the strip, scrape off a piece of the topper until it is big enough to grasp. You can use anything from a chisel to a flat pry bar or even a floor scraping machine to create pull tabs on your linoleum floor strips. To make sure you are heating the linoleum strip evenly for a cleaner pull, slowly move your heat gun or hairdryer back and forth, from top to bottom. If you don’t have a heat gun, you can make do with a hairdryer. Use a heat gun to make the linoleum flooring easier to pull out. The smaller the strip, the easier it will be to pull out. Starting from one side of the room, use a utility knife to cut the linoleum floor into strips, about 6 to 12-inches wide, that run parallel to the wall. This part is the easier one of the two but it can still be a knee-shaking and back-breaking experience. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to remove linoleum flooring from its topper to underlayment. You’re now a day (or an afternoon if you’re lucky) away from installing your new flooring. It’s also a good idea to mark their placements for when you need to put them back. If you plan on re-using your baseboard, you need to be more careful when you remove each section. What’s more, your baseboard might not match the aesthetic of your new floor. Your baseboard will be left with an awkward gap or it will end up partially covered. Whether you replace your floor with something new or decide to keep the original subfloor, the height of your floor will change either way. Don’t forget safety gear too, from goggles to knee pads.Īnother thing you shouldn’t overlook is the removal of the baseboards. Next, you need to gather your tools, such as a knife, chisel, pliers, and a heat gun. You won’t be able to remove the linoleum flooring with a refrigerator or heavy furniture on top of it. Prepare the Work Areaįirst things first, you need to clear out the entire room. Put the linoleum flooring directly into the storage bag and zip it. Pour water on the linoleum as you slowly get the piece. Using a chisel, break off a small piece of linoleum floor from the corner of the room. You also need a plastic bag or resealable storage bag for the sample and water for pouring over the floor-this will keep the dangerous asbestos dust from being inhaled. Make sure you are wearing protective gear, including gloves and a mask. If you want to get solid confirmation, you can always take out a floor sample and send it out for testing. If the house you are living in was built before the 70s, there’s a huge chance your flooring has asbestos. have since banned certain uses of asbestos as it causes a lot of harmful conditions. Linoleum Flooring May Contain AsbestosĪsbestos is a mineral that was highly used in construction during the mid-1900s. Who knows what lies beneath that outdated, mint green linoleum? You might be surprised to uncover timeless, hardwood floors. Lastly, you’ll never know what your subfloor is made of. Two, linoleum glue has oils that can discolor or destroy your new floor. One, your new floor will end up uneven and you’ll be tripping over holes and bumps. Removing the linoleum glue is the most time-consuming part of the job and you might be tempted to simply cover it up with your new floor. And during these years, the bond of the linoleum and the adhesive becomes stronger. Linoleum flooring is known to last for decades. One of the selling points of linoleum is its durability. You Have to Remove Linoleum Glue From the Subfloor This rare instance happens when the adhesive of the linoleum floor has broken down. There is a slight chance that both layers can be removed in one go but not everyone gets to be so lucky. This is the sticky paper that bonds with the adhesive, which makes it a toughie to get out. The underlayment is the bottom half of a linoleum floor. However, that’s literally just scratching the surface. It’s pretty easy to take out and some DIYers think once that is removed, it’s time to celebrate. The topper is a plastic-like layer that embodies the color or design of the linoleum. A linoleum floor has two layers: the topper and the underlayment. It’s important to understand the parts of a linoleum flooring before you start removing it.
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