Taking up Vinyl Flooring

[BHopkins]

I am about to put down laminate flooring in my dining room and kitchen. I have already removed the carpet from the dining room (yes, my home was built in the early '70's, when having carpet in the dining room and bathrooms showed that you were well off. When new flooring was put down, the previous owner stayed with carpet in these areas.), but still need to remove the vinyl flooring from the kitchen area.

I started trying to pull the vinyl flooring up, but found it to be very difficult. I tried using a heat gun, aimed right where the flooring meets the adhesive. It helped a little, but it will still be a slow job, using the technique I was using.

Anyone here have experience with this, that they can share with me, so I can get the flooring up, without spending a week at it, and end up with super sore hands and arms?

 

[RitcheyRch]

My floor guy says to leave the vinyl flooring in the kitchen and bathroom areas which is what he did in our house.

 

[skyactiv]

Try using an iron and let us know how it worked out for you.

 

[97prizm]

I'm reading two different thoughts online. 1) leave it as a base then install over it 2) cut the flooring into more workable strips with a circular saw. Then either really hot water on the floors or a goo gone type adhesive remover then scrape it up.

 

[skyactiv]

 

[Kestas]

Good winter job. It heats the house at the same time.

 

[AndyB]

Try using a scraper blade on a sawzall.

 

[BHopkins]

My floor guy says to leave the vinyl flooring in the kitchen and bathroom areas which is what he did in our house.

If it was over the entire area that I am putting laminate down, I would do that. But part of the area is where the carpet was, and it is already down to MDF. There would be a raise, that I'm sure would be felt, through the laminate, when walking across it. Maybe we would even be able to see it?

 

[BHopkins]

I found a Youtube video where a guy uses this tool, and seems pretty pleased with it. Any experience with this, or a different scraper?

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Zenith-...nKOpcZceSqnBLalarGhoCwrMQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[BHopkins]

Try using an iron and let us know how it worked out for you.

Yea, that would go over real good with the missus. I guess I could go buy an old iron at a thrift store.

 

[cptbarkey]

multi tool with a scraper blade

 

[SevenBizzos]

We just had this issue. The tiles on the cement slab were next to impossible to remove. It took a pro an hour to get 10 square feet removed. I opted to just do an overlay and it's been great. The same tiles came up pretty easily off of the wood sub-flooring upstairs.

 

[AandPDan]

Just a caution here. Vinyl flooring even into the 80's can contain asbestos.

 

[TomYoung]

My floor guy says to leave the vinyl flooring in the kitchen and bathroom areas which is what he did in our house.

I understand that the job can be a bear and does not go quickly. Also, that there is no telling what adhesives went down initially or subsequently in repairs. You are probably safe on asbestos on an early seventies home, but there are many good reasons to get that flooring up and discarded to make way for a the new floor.

 

[TomYoung]

Just a caution here. Vinyl flooring even into the 80's can contain asbestos.

That late! This is a great point.

 

[Pablo]

If hard vinyl, you can probably overlay with lauan sheathing.......but it depends on the laminate flooring mfr recommendation.

The oscillating tool for the win, I would still mask and sleeve up even if I knew no asbestos because dried poo and pee........

 

[BHopkins]

Good advice on the asbestos. That hadn't even crossed my mind. Thank you. I'll be sure to wear a dust mask, and see if I can pick up a disposable hazmat suit at Home Depot or Lowes.

While shopping for a hand floor scraper tool, an employee at the local True Value suggested renting a power floor scraper. I found a local equipment rental business that has one, that rents for $65/day. If it is as quick at the job as I have heard, it will be worth every penny.

 

[RitcheyRch]

If it was over the entire area that I am putting laminate down, I would do that. But part of the area is where the carpet was, and it is already down to MDF. There would be a raise, that I'm sure would be felt, through the laminate, when walking across it. Maybe we would even be able to see it?

Some of our house was in carpet and had no vinyl floor underneath the carpet. He laid down vinyl laminate through the entire house and cannot feel the difference with any raise from where the vinyl flooring is.

 

[55hambone]

Asbestos can be in t

Good advice on the asbestos. That hadn't even crossed my mind. Thank you. I'll be sure to wear a dust mask, and see if I can pick up a disposable hazmat suit at Home Depot or Lowes.

While shopping for a hand floor scraper tool, an employee at the local True Value suggested renting a power floor scraper. I found a local equipment rental business that has one, that rents for $65/day. If it is as quick at the job as I have heard, it will be worth every penny.

Asbestos can be found in vinyl flooring made up until the 1980's. Even if the vinyl doesn't contain asbestos, the mastic that is holding it down may. Asbestos is only hazardous when it becomes airborne-breaking or saw cutting the floor can put particles into the air. A dust mask won't provide adequate protection you will need a respirator and a HEPA air cleaner to do the job as well as your hazmat suit.. Particles in the air can travel to other parts of the house and create a hazard for other family members. I would either install the new floor over the old one, or have the existing flooring and mastic tested to see if asbestos is present before I tear out the existing floor. If you have it the demolition would be a job for a professional.

 

[97prizm]

I found a Youtube video where a guy uses this tool, and seems pretty pleased with it. Any experience with this, or a different scraper?

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Zenith-...nKOpcZceSqnBLalarGhoCwrMQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

This is what commercial companies use after softening the old flooring.