I have a layer of old, crumbly and very sticky vinyl tiles that I need to remove to bring the old tile back (see picture). What is the best way of removing these? Bonus question: How do I get the adhesive off the floor underneath? Use a heat gun to heat up the tiles and soften the adhesive underneath and pry it up with something (putty knife/scraper/pry bar). You should be able to buy floor adhesive remover to get the stuff off of the bottom tiles you want to keep. I found some that was a sort of gel that you spread around on the floor and let it sit for 15 - 30 minutes. Then, scrape it up and it would pull some of the adhesive up too. It was not perfect for me (vinyl tiles glued to hardwood) but it worked OK.It is cheaper and less damaging to your lungs. Let the iron sit on the tile for about 30 seconds and it will pop right off, then move on to the next one. I renovate homes and have done it numerous times. I have well over 14000 sqft under my belt. They are easier to remove if you heat them with a good hair dryer or a heat gun.

Unfortunately, I don't know how to remove the remaining glue. I've been there, and it's really tough. I had a stiff paint scraper which I heated up with a soldering torch, and it helped a little, but not much. Realistically, use a sledgehammer and lay a new subfloor. Buy Speed Queen Washer And DryerThat stuff is nasty to get off.Outdoor Furniture Tuscan Style If old vinyl tiles are 9" x 9", do NOT attempt to remove! Home For Sale In Yamhill CountyIt is highly likely that these contain asbestos. Consult a professional haz mat service. The Laundry pre-spotter "Shout" is a good adhesive remover, also "Pure Citrus" an air freshener found in the automotive section of most retail stores. Use a dry rag to wipe the adhesive off.

It becomes quite gooey when it comes off the tiles. Just work it with a rag and clean off. I found this advice on a forum and it works for me. I would use a "Wonder Bar" to remove the tiles and be careful not to scratch them too much or scratch them at all. A Wonder Bar is a short pry bar, made by Stanley. I have used that to do many tasks and consider it one of the most versatile tools in my tool box. Unless you are only removing a small floor space like 3' by 3' feet the amount of effort put into your project will outweigh the results. You perhaps will not even get the original tile to be completely free of the glue/adhesive. You may want to consider removing all tiles and starting from scratch, as outlandish as that recommendation sounds. You can try some heat to remove the vinyl but I think the Wonder Bar will rock the heat on its ass. Hopefully you are not renovating one of the White House bathrooms because your project will probably not come out with the highest quality results but if the floor can be pretty good then you have a shot.

Good luck with it! I am also doing the same. I tried the iron first and it is time consuming. Then I had this idea of hot water. I just poured some boiling water and hurray the tiles came out so easily.... And for the glue I used a paint scraper . adhesive remover and elbow grease will do it. be patient and you will eventually get it all off My husband used a steamer to get our old tiles up! Worked like magic : ) Too many scare notes on asbestos. Asbestos is only dangerous with repeated exposure. If you remove tiles whole and properly ventilate to the exterior (use a wet vac that I put a hose to and run out the house) it will be fine. Just don't sand it and wear a respirator. dry ice works too. it essentially freezes the tile and it pops right off.Vinyl flooring was a favored choice in older homes. Before you begin the project to remove old vinyl flooring in your home, you need to determine if the flooring contains asbestos. A majority of the vinyl flooring made before 1986 contained asbestos in the tiles or in the backing materials.

Even some of the early peel-and-stick tiles used asbestos as the main ingredient. Asbestos was also found in the adhesives used to secure the flooring. To be safe, if you can’t identify whether the vinyl flooring in your home contains asbestos, follow the work practice recommendations of the Resilient Floor Covering Institute to remove old vinyl flooring. Understanding and Identifying Asbestos in Flooring Removing flooring materials that contain asbestos causes microscopic dust to get in the air, creating a breathing hazard. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral fiber found in the earth and can only be identified under a special microscope. Breathing these fibers can lead to asbestosis or lung cancer known as mesothelioma. Many states have laws that prevent homeowners from removing any materials that contain asbestos from their homes. For instance, California law specifically requires certified professionals to remove and dispose of any materials that contain asbestos. You can visually identify vinyl flooring materials that contain asbestos by reviewing the “Vinyl-Asbestos Floor Tiles and Sheet Flooring Identification Photo Guide” (see Resources).

However, a lab test is required to confirm whether the flooring or adhesive contains asbestos. Removing Old Vinyl Flooring with Asbestos Removing vinyl flooring with asbestos requires special safety clothing and breathing respirators. Professionals will not remove the flooring if it is dry by drilling, sanding, dry scraping or sawing. They will thoroughly wet the floor with a detergent solution. Do not use a broom to sweep up such materials. When vacuuming, the vacuum must have a disposable bag and be equipped with a high-efficiency particulate air filter and metal floor attachment that does not have a brush on it. Wet-scrape the vinyl underneath to remove the flooring. Place all flooring materials into impenetrable, 6-mil heavy-duty trash bags and seal or use leak-proof containers. For disposal, all bags and containers must be properly identified as containing asbestos. Techniques to Remove Vinyl Flooring Without Asbestos Remove the baseboards and any threshold covers installed over vinyl flooring seams between rooms.

You can remove vinyl flooring materials you are positive do not contain asbestos by dry-scraping or using a mechanical multitool to make the project go quickly. Work from one side of the room to the other. Find a loose edge or pry up a flooring edge with a putty knife or other pry tool to get started. Roll the vinyl flooring up as you go, if in one piece, to make room to get underneath the flooring that is still attached. Scape underneath the flooring until it is completely removed. Removing Old Adhesives Vinyl flooring with asbestos may also have adhesives that contain asbestos as well. Professionals follow the same procedures for removing flooring that contains asbestos when removing adhesive. They do not sand any adhesive suspected of containing asbestos. They wet the floor with a detergent solution and scrape the floor with a scraper while it is wet. Use this same process when removing adhesives that don't contain asbestos as well, as the detergent solution helps to loosen the adhesive.