How to Remove Old Linoleum Tile

Do you have old linoleum tile in your kitchen or bathroom? Prior to removing the tile, make sure that the tile does not contain asbestos. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, asbestos found in vinyl tile, like those found in what is known as the serpentine group, was banned in the U.S. in the early 1980s. If the tile is pre-1980s, you might want to have an inspector take a look at the tile to see if it contains asbestos.

If the tile is merely old, but asbestos free, you can remove it either using a heat gun or chemicals. A heat gun is more environmentally friendly and is actually easier to use. To remove linoleum tile with a heat gun you will need the following products in addition to the heat gun:

A scraper

A pair of good work gloves

Acetone

Cleaning rags

Heating The Tile

After you have heated the linoleum tile with the heat gun, you should be able to pull it up starting at the corners and then, using the scraper, pry it up from the floor. The heat gun will melt the adhesive that is used to keep the tile in place and make it easier to remove. Stack the tiles on one another and continue removing them one at a time.

Spend more time heating the tile and you will expend less energy pulling the tile up from the floor. The more you heat the tile, the easier it will be to remove. The goal should be to remove the tile in one piece, if possible.

Cleaning The Floor

The floor under the tile may have remnants of adhesive stuck to it after you have removed the tiles. The acetone will remove the adhesive. You will want to make sure that the floor is free from adhesive before you lay any additional tile or flooring down on the floor.

There are chemicals that can be used to clean the floor, but acetone is the most earth friendly and the least toxic. Some of the chemicals that are sold in home improvement stores that remove adhesives will burn the skin on contact – acetone will not cause burning or irritation to the skin.

Disposing Of The Tiles

Talk to your waste disposal company about disposing the tiles. Compact them as much as possible to make it easier for their disposal. These cannot be recycled, but often can be ground down to dust in a grinder. If you have a wood chipper, you can dispose of them in this manner. If you do not have this device, you should talk to your waste management company to see about the most environmentally friendly way to dispose of the old linoleum tiles.

You will need to remove linoleum tiles before you can put down a new floor. You can remove linoleum tiles in an environmentally friendly way if you use these tips when embarking on this project.