Did you know that the cost of vinyl flooring is up to 70 percent less than other flooring materials? Also, vinyl flooring materials are durable. Once installed, they look fantastic, but like any other material, they wear out with time.
The problem with this kind of flooring material is that you cannot efficiently or effectively repair it. The only way out is to remove them, and consequently replace them with other new vinyl sheets.
Removing a vinyl floor isn’t an easy task. It requires expert skills, total concentration, and the right set of tools; otherwise, you’ll remain of lumps of adhesives or glue will remain on the floor. These lumps require sharper tools to remove them.
Most homeowners hire professionals to remove such floors, owing to the complexity of the procedure. Here are some things that you should know if you want to organise vinyl floor removal.
Primary considerations on Vinyl Flooring Removal
Vinyl flooring in good conditions can be installed underneath other flooring material. That is to say that when in good condition, they can accept lamination, ceramic tiles, porcelain tiles, and wood on top of them.
Naturally, a vinyl floor is installed on a subfloor made of wood or plywood. The wood is porous, and therefore, able to absorb the adhesive. This is the part that complicated the removal of the vinyl sheets.
The importance of removing the adhesive is because some versions of the adhesives have oils that will chemically react with newly installed vinyl sheets causing a yellow discolouration.
Also, if old glue or adhesive is left alone, it causes massive failures. The newly installed vinyl can become brittle, especially when the glue breaks. This will also expose bump and cracks in the old floor.
That makes sense why most homeowners prefer removing the whole vinyl before installing a new one. Some people prefer using chemicals to ease the removal process. They are very effective; however, they are costly, smelly, and create a lot of mess.
Tools for Vinyl Flooring Removal
- Utility Knife
- Woodblock
- Brick Chisel
- Bully Flooring Scraper
- Paint Scraper
- Hammer
- Heat Gun
- Drill
- Screwdriver
- Water & Dish Soap
- Sander
Procedure
Remove the baseboards: Baseboards covers the edge of the floor. To remove them use a woodblock and pry bar. Place the flatter end of the prybar where the trim and the wall meet and rap with a hammer. This will separate the two. Pry the trim away gently, and in stages.
Cut the centre of the floor: vinyl floors are usually glued on the perimeter (6 inches), i.e., the middle is not glued. Make a parallel cut 8 inches from the wall. Make your cuts in long narrow strips maintaining width not exceeding 18 inches. While pulling the vinyl sheet might seem a more relaxed options, it is highly recommended against because the sheet might become too heavy to manage.
Remove the glued section using the Pry bar: the glue is tough. So you’ll need to scrap harder using the flat end. When it can no longer work well, switch to a tool that is a bit sharper. Force the tool in between the vinyl and the subfloor with jabs.
Pull it back: after peeling a considerable length, pull the vinyl sheet perpendicularly. To make it easier, heat the heat gun, and then wave it at the junction between the sheet and the subfloor. Alternatively, you can heat the top and sections and pulling it.