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How To Quickly Remove Vinly Flooring

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While vinyl floors are known for their durability, there often comes a point when you might want to remove your vinyl flooring to try out a new style or material. Removing an old vinyl floor is not exactly an easy task, but it is still possible to do such a project entirely by yourself. Here is a step-by-step guide to remove vinyl flooring quickly and efficiently using some very simple tools.

Getting Started

First, you'll want to get approximately in the middle of your vinyl flooring, and then use a sharp utility knife to cut a long strip of the flooring. If there's wood under there, be careful to cut only as deep as the vinyl flooring yourself to avoid damaging your subflooring. From there, use the flat side of a pry or crowbar, and begin to tug underneath the vinyl until you have enough space to slide in a floor scraper.

Hold the floor scraper at a 30- or 45-degree angle once it's properly inserted, and then use your body to force the scraper in deeper. You may need to wriggle the scraper back and forth, as vinyl is usually securely fastened with copious amounts of adhesive. Strip sections of the flooring off and discard it, using your utility knife to cut away more strips as needed.

Removing Adhesive and Cleanup

One of the most difficult parts of removing vinyl flooring is getting the adhesive used to install the vinyl off your subfloor. For subflooring made of concrete, you're usually in luck, as getting the vinyl off shouldn't be too much work.

However, for subflooring that's made of wood, the porous surface of the wood makes it especially difficult, as the adhesive is usually partly absorbed into the wood itself.

It is possible to get a substantial amount of glue off with a floor scraper, but sometimes this can damage the subfloor if it's wood. One of the best methods of removal is to apply a heat gun to the wooden subflooring, and then use your floor scraper to take up the glue as it softens. Be sure to avoid any potential burns by wearing work gloves if you use this method.  

Afterwards, simply sweep up any remaining vinyl floor or debris, vacuum your workspace, and then finish your cleanup with some simple soap and water. You should now be free to install new flooring or simply use the original subflooring. Regardless of what you want to do, you'll have blank slate to work with, allowing you the freedom to choose what kind of flooring you want in your home or office.

To learn more, be sure to contact RC Lees Carpet One Floor & Home.


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