| When it comes time to get new flooring you | | | | move to the next one. |
| can save money by removing the old flooring | | | | |
| yourself but if you have old linoleum on your | | | | Another technique is to use boiling water and |
| floors you might be in for quite a challenge. | | | | pour it directly on the backing and adhesive. |
| Depending on how old the linoleum is and the | | | | Let it soak and then scrape up. If you don't |
| type of adhesive that was used it can be | | | | want to use water, you can try to heat up the |
| extremely difficult to get up. | | | | glue with a hair dryer or heat gun. Pick a |
| | | | very inconspicuous area, such as behind a |
| First of all, it's unlikely that you'll be | | | | door, to try it. Heat the adhesive with the |
| able to just remove the linoleum and adhesive | | | | hair dryer and scrape it up with a |
| all at once. The surface under the linoleum | | | | straight-blade scraper (like a stiff putty |
| and the damage you might cause it needs to be | | | | knife with a beveled edge). Move the scraper |
| considered - especially if that surface is | | | | in the direction of the grain of the wood if |
| wood. Concrete floors can take a lot more in | | | | you are uncovering a hardwood floor. Have a |
| the way of rough treatment. The type of | | | | pan or some other container handy to drop the |
| scraper you use has a lot to do with your | | | | scrapings into - one that is unlikely to |
| success as well as the damage to the floor | | | | either melt or ignite when coming in contact |
| underneath. Many people use paint scrapers | | | | with hot materials. Be very careful if you |
| but those with a razor blade are usually more | | | | are using a heat gun as this can easily |
| efficient. Be prepared to break some blades | | | | damage the floor underneath if it is wood. |
| it if the adhesive is hard, and you're | | | | |
| working on concrete. | | | | If worse comes to worse and you are left with |
| | | | some stubborn adhesive on the floors, it |
| Try cutting the linoleum into strips or | | | | might be time to sand. Of course, if your |
| sections instead of removing the whole chunk | | | | floors are wood and you plan to refinish them |
| at once. This will make it easier to get an | | | | you would need to sand anyway, but during |
| edge to pry up. Of course, the linoleum | | | | this step you must be careful not to damage |
| probably won't come up in nice neat sections | | | | the particular area by keeping the sander on |
| so be prepared to deal with a lot of left | | | | it for too long. |
| over backing and glue that is still attached | | | | |
| to your floor. | | | | Once you finally get the linoleum and all |
| | | | traces of adhesive up, you are ready to seal |
| One way to deal with those remnants that just | | | | the floor as recommended for the type of |
| won't come up is to apply some kind of | | | | flooring and apply the new floor as |
| solvent or remover. A popular brand is Krud | | | | recommended! |
| Kutter, which appears to work very well from | | | | |
| the customer feedback comments. Follow | | | | Lee Dobbins writes for A Kitchen Decorating |
| directions on the label of whatever product | | | | Idea where you can find more tips on kitchen |
| you employ, and wear gloves to protect your | | | | remodeling and decorating on a budget. |
| hands. Do a small section at a time, and then | | | | |