How to Remove Vinyl Flooring

Before you decide to remove linoleum or vinyl flooring, make sure you have explored all the options. If the floor is still largely intact, and held solidly, you may be better off filling any holes with material you can buy at the hardware store, and laying your new floor right over top. Not only does it save all the removal work, but it insulates the floor.

The two alternatives to just covering the old floor, are to lay a fresh floor of plywood, or a layer of self-leveling cement, which is usually about 1/8" thick. Remember however, that this difference in the floor depth of one room, can cause problems at the point where floor levels change, causing people to trip and fall.

When removing is your only choice, make sure the job is a thorough one. Some older floor adhesives contained oils that will come up through your new flooring and discolor it. Also, there were times in the 1970s when asbestos was used in the adhesives. If you are in doubt about the glue under your old floor, raise a small piece and take it to a center for testing. You can still remove it yourself, but with added health precautions, such as wearing a filtering mask, and keeping the surface wet, so that dust does not fly around.

If your vinyl flooring is on plywood, cut it in strips or squares, for easier removal. Peel up an edge, and use a putty knife to slide underneath, tapping with a hammer if necessary. Use knife to lift each section. A paint scraper may help to remove leftover globs from the plywood. Tar-based adhesives can be softened with mineral spirits for easier removal.

When there is a perfectly good hardwood floor underneath, move slower and work more carefully. Cut the flooring into strips in the same direction as the wood underneath is laid, to minimize marks that stand out. A heat gun on the flooring will help soften it and the adhesive. Pull it up, and scrape off as much adhesive as possible, then refinish your hardwood.