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The rich textures and soundproof designs of vinyl flooring sure do an incredible job of elevating one's home appeal. However, like all amazing things, vinyl floors also have a limited lifetime. The scratches and rough use in high-traffic places cause the vinyl floor to break down after several years.
Now, the only sensible option you can go for is to remove the vinyl flooring altogether and install a fresh new layer.
Wondering how you can remove vinyl flooring and deal with glue residues with minimal effort? Let's find out!
Removing vinyl flooring is quite a straightforward task. You can even finish the job yourself if you have little understanding of how to use the various tools. Here are the specific tools you'll need to perform the job:Tools
Gear
Let’s now move on to the stepwise guide to remove the vinyl floors seamlessly.
First, you need to inspect the vinyl floor type in your home. It's essential because asbestos vinyl floors were prominent until 1980. Asbestos-containing materials are harmful, and even the little asbestos fibers can lodge into your lungs, leading to cancer-related medical implications.
You don't want that, right? So, inspect your flooring first and carefully deal with asbestos vinyl floors. Here's how you can identify such vinyl flooring:
Your floor must have round trims and baseboards on the floor corners. So, remove them using a pry bar. First, use the utility knife to cut the layer of paint that connects your trim and your baseboards, then penetrate the pry bar into the trim and baseboard joint point, and then gently strike it using a hammer. Now, slowly pry away the trim and proceed along the wall.
Additional tip: Before starting, move the furniture or any hurdle from the floor to avoid any disruption when removing the vinyl tiles.
Vinyl sheets/tiles are easily penetrable using a simple utility knife or razor. Vinyl floor is usually glued only from the perimeter corners of the floors, and it is laid loose in the center, so start cutting the floor to be removed from the center.
For sheets, start cutting from at least 8 inches from the wall and see if you can easily pull up the sheets. For tiles, peel up a corner and scrape or pull up the tile from there.
To make the removal process manageable, cut the vinyl sheets into strips with a width of no more than 12-15 inches. Although you might find it tempting to pull large sheets of vinyl, this approach makes vinyl heavy and challenging to manage. So, get your utility knife and slice the sheets into narrow strips and simultaneously use your hand to pry off the strips.
Of course, there will be several regions where stubborn adhesive may make it too complex to remove the vinyl from the subfloor. Don't fret. Here are plenty of ways to strike off the vinyl effortlessly:
After removing the sheets, you'll find several glue patches on the subfloor. Well, it's best to remove it if you're planning to install new vinyl flooring. Several adhesive strippers tools and techniques to abolish the excess glue residues include:
If you are removing vinyl from a concrete floor, heat the water to the boiling point and pour it onto the floor. The adhesive will turn soft after a few minutes, and you can thereby scrape it using a spatula or pry bar. Using this method on a plywood, or other porous subfloors may cause water and mold damage.
On hard surfaces that are not impacted by heat, such as concrete, you may also use a heat gun to soften the adhesive prior to scraping.
Create DIY adhesive strippers using warm water and soap in a bucket. Apply it to the hard adhesive and allow the mixture to soak the glue. After a while, the adhesive will soften, which can be removed easily.
You can create an acetone mixture and spray it onto the glue residue. Wait for the mixture to dissolve the bond and push the glue away using a scraper.
If any stubborn spots of adhesive remain, you may use a heat gun to soften the adhesive and then scrape, or gently use an electric sander. Finally, dump the vinyl scraps into trash bags and cans as per the local dumping rules. Now, vacuum and clear the subfloor for the next layer installation. If you want to learn about different designs that suit the area, contact CC Carpet for expert guidance.
It's a high chance that you may accidentally spill glue on a vinyl floor. In case the glue is fresh, use a damp cloth to clean off the residue. For excess glue, gently use a scraper and then finish rubbing it with a disposable rag.
If the glue has dried, use adhesive strippers like acetone or a heat gun to soften the glue and then gently scrape it.
Here are several essential pointers to consider when removing vinyl:
The removal process is the same whether it's concrete, plywood, or hardwood subfloor. Start with a knife to penetrate the vinyl layer, and use a scraper to lift and then pull the flooring. If you’re stuck with glue, use acetone-based adhesive strippers to eradicate the glue patches.
Vinyl floor removal is indeed an easy-to-follow process. Follow through our six-step guide and use suitable adhesive strippers; rest assured, you'll finish the task within a few hours. Now that you have decided to remove the vinyl flooring, you might be thinking of adding a new floor layer. Isn't that true? To make non-regrettable decisions, reach out to CC Carpet for consultation regarding top flooring designs. We ensure here you'll get some high-quality vinyl flooring options that elevate your home's appeal like never before. Get in touch today!
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