| Wish you knew how to get rid of your existing | | | | Make sure you follow instructions and read |
| linoleum? Like all things renovation wise, it | | | | the warnings on the label of whatever product |
| can be a tough job, but it is still something | | | | you use and wear skin and eye protection, |
| that you are capable of doing. How difficult | | | | such as gloves and glasses. One popular |
| your particular linoleum will be to remove | | | | solvent is aptly named, Krud Kutter. Again, |
| depends on its age and how it is fixated to | | | | proceed by doing small sections at a time. |
| your sub floor. If the linoleum is currently | | | | |
| in good shape minus cracks, and soundly | | | | If you prefer not working with chemicals a |
| affixed to your sub floor, you may be able to | | | | low cost method of adhesive removal involves |
| leave it in place and add your new floor | | | | just boiling water. You can pour the boiling |
| materials over it. Most people, however, | | | | water directly on the remaining adhesive, in |
| prefer to remove the linoleum and start from | | | | small sections, allow it to set a bit, and |
| scratch when installing new flooring. | | | | then proceed with scraping it. |
| | | | |
| The removal of your existing linoleum will | | | | If you are working with hardwood floors, that |
| involve some sweat equity on your part. | | | | you are worried about damaging, you can try |
| Removal of your linoleum is a multi step | | | | to remove the adhesive and remaining backing |
| process. Once you get the linoleum up you | | | | with a hair dryer or heat gun. Try a test |
| will have to deal with its adhesive material. | | | | area such as in the pantry. Simply use the |
| Also, you may not even know what lies beneath | | | | hair dryer to heat up the adhesive and then |
| the linoleum until you remove it. The | | | | scrape it. Make sure you are not scraping |
| underlying floors could be wood or concrete. | | | | against the grain of the wood. As this method |
| Concrete being easier to work with as it is | | | | will result in hot and sticky debris make |
| more durable. | | | | sure you have a heat resistant container |
| | | | ready for the clean up. If you choose to use |
| The best tip when removing linoleum is to | | | | a heat gun make sure you do not apply to much |
| work in small sections. You can cut the | | | | heat and burn the wood. As always, it is best |
| linoleum in workable sized strips or squares | | | | to work in a small section, applying the heat |
| as you go and then peel them off. Not only | | | | in a moving motion versus static and scraping |
| will you remove the majority of the surface | | | | each area as you go. |
| layer of linoleum but it will assist you in | | | | |
| getting to the adhesive as well. You can | | | | Unlike when working with concrete your goal |
| further attack the adhesive using a paint | | | | is to not remove 100% of the adhesive. |
| scraper or razor blade scraper. The razor | | | | Attempt to do so on hardwood floors and you |
| blades ones will work much easier just keep | | | | will probably end up damaging the wood. |
| in mind when working with hard adhesive or on | | | | Simply remove what you can without forcing |
| concrete floors you will likely go through | | | | the rest then clean the area by vacuuming or |
| several blades. | | | | sweeping the debris. Depending on how much of |
| | | | the adhesive backing remains you can proceed |
| Now that you have been able to remove the | | | | by lightly sanding or removing the remaining |
| majority of the linoleum and its backing you | | | | portions with damp mopping using mineral |
| can attack what remains. One way to do so is | | | | spirits or a similar product to prepare the |
| by applying a solvent or chemical remover. | | | | floor for its new refinish. |