Vinyl Floor Tile Removal Tips

Vinyl floor tile can last for years, but it eventually wears out and needs to be replaced. Whether you’re a flooring contractor or a homeowner, this task can be daunting.

Luckily, the process is much easier than you might think. With the help of warm water and a heat gun, you can easily remove vinyl planks or tiles without damaging the concrete subfloor underneath.

Cut the Tiles

Whether you’re working with vinyl planks or tiles, always adhere to the old carpentry saying “measure twice, cut once.” It’s easy to make small mistakes when measuring and cutting. This can lead to wasted materials and a difficult time re-aligning edges and corners.

Using a utility knife, score your cuts carefully across the face of the vinyl tile. Use the dull side of the blade to avoid ripping or marring the surface. Be sure to keep the blade a safe distance from your body so that you don’t accidentally cut yourself.

When you come to an area that requires a complex cut, such as around a heat register, remove the grille and mark the precise dimensions on the vinyl floor tile. If you’re able to do this, you can cut the tile precisely and avoid any damage. If you can’t, simply soften the vinyl with a heat gun before attempting to cut it with a utility knife.

Heat the Adhesive

If you are incredibly skilled and have access to a heat gun, you may be able to loosen tile that has been adhered to the floor(wall) and remove it without damaging either surface. However, this is not a task that most people can complete successfully.

If there is any adhesive left after you’ve removed the tiles, using a flooring adhesive remover to soften it should make it easier to scrape and peel away. Be sure to follow all product instructions carefully.

If you don’t have a heating tool, boiling water can also be used to heat and loosen the glue underneath your vinyl tile. Pour a small amount of hot water over a section of the floor and let it sit for about 30 minutes. The warm water should loosen the glue and make it easier to pull up the tile. If this doesn’t work, try again with more boiling water. Continue this process until all of the glue is loose and easily removed from the floor.

Scrape the Adhesive

You may be able to loosen vinyl plank and tile flooring by prying it up with a scraper if the adhesive is not too strong. It is best to use a long handled scraper available at floor supply places that you can work with standing up.

After the stripping solution is allowed to soak into the glue for a few minutes, you can begin to pull away the flooring. This is likely to be done in small sections as it may take a while to get through the thick layer of glue that has built up.

If the concrete subfloor is resistant to the removal process, a stronger solvent such as solvent thinners may be needed to soften the glue. However, if the glue is still not coming off the subfloor, you should consider using a commercial stripper for floors to completely remove the old vinyl and its adhesive. These strippers are usually formulated with chemicals that will not damage most concrete or wood subfloors.

Remove the Tiles

Many flooring professionals will tell you that loose lay vinyl flooring is much easier to remove than tiles. This type of flooring uses friction to keep the planks in place and doesn’t have a glue layer.

It’s recommended to cut the vinyl tiles into 4 or 6-inch sections before you heat them up for removal. This will make it easier to leverage the tile from the floor without damaging the concrete or hardwood subfloor underneath.

Use an old iron with water in it to heat up the vinyl and loosen the glue. Then, using your scraper, pull up the vinyl and adhesive. You may need to repeat the heating and scraping process to remove any remaining adhesive or tile. Once you’ve completely removed the vinyl, you’ll have a clean slate for your concrete refinishing or other flooring renovation project. You’ll also have saved yourself a lot of time, money and energy!



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