Home & Family Facts and Notes

Are you thinking about removing linoleum in your home? It’s not easy, but doable. Removing linoleum from your home can be quite a task, a lot of it depends on how old the linoleum is, and the kind of adhesive that was used to fasten it down. Sometimes, if it’s solidly bound, and not cracking or heaving, people decide to leave it underneath whatever else they are laying down. Nonetheless, most home owners choose to start from scratch, and that means a lot of elbow grease, no matter which method of removal you decide on.

In a perfect world, the linoleum and adhesive would lift together. Unfortunately, that’s just not likely. You won’t know what’s in store until you remove the initial layer of linoleum. If the underlying floor is made of concrete it can be relatively easy to remove the old adhesive. Wood floors, however, present a much bigger challenge. Most people use paint scrapers or razor blades to remove the old adhesive. This is fine on concrete, but wood floors require a gentle touch. Old adhesive can hard enough to damage blades and scrapers, so be prepared to stock up.

One piece of advice is not to try and remove everything at once. Many people instead cut the linoleum into strips or sections, and peel that off. You should pull up most of the surface, and likely a good portion of the backing. Doing it this way will make it easier to get at the adhesive underneath as well.

Once you are down to the scraps, there are two basic methods to aid your scraping efforts. One is to use some kind of solvent or remover. A popular brand is Krud Kutter, which appears to work very well, according to the customer feedback comments. Follow instructions on the label of whatever product you employ, and wear gloves to protect your hands. Do a small section at a time, and then go on to the next one.

Some home renovators have had success using boiling water to soften the adhesive. Working one section at a time, pour the water directly onto the backing and adhesive. Leave it to soak, and then scrape up the softened debris. Another option is to lay a folded towel over the adhesive, pour the boiling water, let it set and then begin scraping.

Heat can be another successful method of removing linoleum adhesive. Find an inconspicuous area behind a door or in a closet. Heat the adhesive with a hair dryer and scrape it using a putty knife or other style of straight blade scraper. If you’re uncovering a hardwood floor, be sure to push the scraper in the direction of the wood grain. Keep a pan or container nearby to dispose of the adhesive scrapings. Make sure that the container will not melt or ignite if it comes into contact with hot materials.

A heat gun can be a great tool in removing old linoleum adhesive. You’ll need to be careful not to scorch or char the wood. It’s also important to know that this method can cause softened adhesive or mastic to creep into any of the natural crevices and the cracks between floorboards. Work a very small area, with a constantly moving heat source. Scrape as quickly as possible for best results.

It’s virtually impossible to remove every bit of old adhesive from a hardwood floor, and too much scraping can easily damage the wood. Use the above methods to take away as much old adhesive as possible. Then, take a break to consider your next step. Some people choose to lightly sand away any remaining adhesive, while others use mineral spirits and turpentine to scrub it off. However you choose to clean your wood floors, remember this important final step: seal the wood to protect it before you lay any new adhesives or coverings.

Tags: home accessories, shelter