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How to Remove Linoleum - Some Easy
Guidelines
By James McDonald
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If you are considering remodeling your home and
want to know how to remove linoleum, here are some
fairly simple steps to follow. One thing you need
to consider though is that it can be difficult
work, depending on several factors. Should the
linoleum be old, the adhesive may not budge easily
resulting in extra time and effort. In certain
cases, if it's not cracking or heaving at all, you
may choose to leave it underneath whatever else
will be laid down. However, most home owners
choose to start fresh which means a certain amount
of physical labor, no matter what method of
removal you decide on. |
For starters, you probably won't be able to
completely remove all the linoleum and adhesive
during the first pass. The type of flooring
underneath can contribute to the problem as well,
especially if it happens to be wood. Concrete
floors can certainly take more abuse than wooden
ones, particularly if you are using a scraper. Try
finding one with a good razor blade as these are
the most efficient, but be careful using it. It's
easy to cut yourself when you are pushing it hard,
and try to have extra blades on hand as you most
likely will break some.
One thing we recommend is to split the project up
into sections and concentrate on one at a time.
Try to cut the linoleum into these strips or
sections, and peel them back.
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You can apply more
pressure to a smaller portion, giving you the
required leverage to get most of the backing off.
This should also make it easier to remove the
adhesive underneath.
After you have finished the surface materials and
are left with the stubborn stuff, there are a
couple things you can do to help your scraping
efforts. Try to apply a solvent or remover product
that specializes in just this type of application.
Many home improvement stores or departments will
have several to choose from. Remember to start
with small sections to not get overwhelmed. Finish
one and move on to the next. |
If you want to try a homegrown solution, some
people recommend using hot or boiling water
instead of the solvent. It can be poured right on
the adhesive backing, left to soak for a while,
and finally scraped up. You can even put a towel
down first, pour the water over it, let it set,
then remove and scrape. Proceed cautiously with
this method if you have a nice hardwood floor
underneath to avoid warping.
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Another technique that has been recommended by do
it yourself homeowners is to first heat the
adhesive with a hair dryer, then to scrape it up
with a straight-blade scraper or something with a
beveled edge. Should you be uncovering a hardwood
floor, move the scraper in the same direction as
the grain of the wood. Since the shavings will be
hot, be careful moving them and avoid dropping
them back on the uncovered wood. Instead of using
a hair dryer, you can also try a heat gun. We only
recommend this if you are experienced with it as
it can damage the flooring you are trying to save.
Either way, just keep the heated area small and
constantly move the heat source. Scraping quickly
after applying the heat will be the most effective
removal method.
Should you reach a point where you cannot remove
any more of the old adhesive using the techniques
described, you can try a light sanding. Don't use
a coarse sandpaper unless absolutely necessary as
this may damage the surface. You can also try to
mop the residue off using rags dampened with
turpentine, mineral spirits, or similar types of
solvent. Once you are happy with the way the floor
looks you will be ready to either apply a seal, or
some other type of covering.
About the Author: James McDonald writes for Home
Remodel Ideas, which provides ideas and information on several
types of home remodeling projects.
For more help on new home construction,
see HomeAdditionPlus.com’s
Home Construction Contractor Bid Sheets.
Home
Construction Contractor Bid Sheets
will
help ensure that you find and hire the right home building contractor
for your next home improvement, remodeling, or building project. In
addition, they will help to ensure that your home improvement project is
completed on time and on budget.
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