by S. Anderson

Created on: September 29, 2007

Removing linoleum can result in blisters, aggravation, and a raging desire to throw all your tools across the room. It is a time-consuming project, not for the faint of heart. However, if you have time and want to save money, it is one you can do yourself with a lot of effort.

Your goal is to create a smooth surface to place a new floor over, unless you want to save underlying hardwood floor. Cut a moderate hole to see what's underneath. If it's hardwood, and you're willing to take the time to save it, you'll need to cut the linoleum into strips along the grain of the wood. Otherwise, cut the linoleum into strips in order to facilitate easy removal.

You can pour boiling water onto the flooring and leave it for a few minutes, allowing the heat to loosen the glue. If you want to protect a wood subfloor, soak a towel with hot water, then lay it over the floor. Make sure you dry the floor completely to prevent warping. Alternatively, you can use a heat gun, but be careful not to melt the linoleum into a sticky mess. After the flooring is sufficiently heated, insert the floor scraper and pry it up. If you're lucky, large pieces will come up. Always make sure to keep your blade sharp and to work in short intervals.

Next comes the most difficult part: the glue. Again, you can use the hot water soak. If working on a wood floor, soak a towel with boiling water and lay it over top of the glue for a few minutes. Also,you can use a solvent such a lacquer thinner or acetone, as long as you make certain to ventilate the room. Home Depot has a product called "Krud Kutter" that works extremely well. Let it sit on a small area for a few minutes, then scrape it up with a straight blade scraper, being careful not to gouge wood flooring. Repeat until you've worked your way across the floor. When all else fails, give the floor a light sanding.

Take your time, wear gloves, and work in small sections! When you are finally finished, enjoy your beautiful new floor!

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