How do you get linoleum up?
Question:Me and my mom were using screwdrivers and hammers to try and get the linoleum floor up but it is taking way to long. It was under carpet when we bought the house. Is there an easier way to get it up?
Answers:
I found a three inch wide putty knife tool thing with a handle that had a socket for a broom handle. This turned out to work pretty well. I also tried a power scraper thing, electric. I don't think that worked very well. Getting the glue up is another step. I found some solvent that worked. Use several fans to move the fumes out of the room. Make sure there is no flame such as a pilot light in a stove or furnace. You don't want to burn your house down even though that might get rid of the linoleum. It was a lot of work to get that stuff off, but eventually the job did get done.
we used one of those shovels that is flat and wide...or a flat blade spade will work also...
I had to do that-its tough.
Here is what we finally wound up doing.
Get some razor knives. Then make long fast cuts on the floor in the same direction. Then slide a scraper under the linoleum and push hard. Strip up what you can, then cut some more. The smaller or more narrow you cut up the strips-the easier they come up. It takes a long time.
no, especially if it is glued to the subfloor. some people heat it with a propane tourch before scraping it but that has its own problems.
I once used a heat gun and a putty knife to do this job on self sticking tile that wouldn't budge. It depends on the mastic used to glue down the flooring, but ill tell you if you can borrow a heat gun its worth the try.
Yeah, when its glued to the entire floor its tough.
I had to get several axes and just scraped them across the concrete. I had a bench grinder that I used to sharpen them every once in a while too.
I tried the heat gun method and all it did was make a sticky mess.
Good Luck,
A heat gun or even a blow drier will help by activating the adhesive. Also try a sturdy 2-3 inch putty knife or better yet, a 5-in-1 (a crazy useful cheap "painters" tool everyone should have). You're killing yourselves with screwdrivers.
Why, though? Putting carpet back down? Its not hurting anything.
Ceramic tile? 1/4" Hardibacker can be screwed down on top of it.
Hardwood? Can be nail down on top of it.
New vinyl floor? Can be glued on top of it if its down tight. Just clean it real good to remove all grease and wax.
You may be killing yourselves for no reason.
Using a backerboard is paramount to a good tile install. Don't try and save money by cutting corners.Remember.It doesn't matter how Expensive the tile is...The tile is only as good as what's under it. Don't make a costly mistake!
Get the backerboard and install per thee mfg instructions.
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