| How to remove vinyl flooring
|
|
There are so many different flooring choices available for you to use in the kitchen and changing the flooring can make a huge difference in the look and feel of your kitchen. If you like the feel and ease of vinyl flooring, there are many newer patterns of vinyl flooring that can update your kitchen at a budget price. Whichever replacement flooring you choose, you need to evaluate whether or not the old vinyl flooring will need to be removed or not. But then, you think how to remove vinyl flooring?
Many of the flooring choices can be laid directly over your old vinyl flooring, as long as it is flat and even. If there are just a few places where it is uneven, you can build these places up with floor filler to make the surface smooth and even. If the flooring is very uneven, you can lay down a 1/4-inch piece of plywood and then put your new flooring on top of that. Keep in mind that anything you add to the floors on top of your old flooring will make the thresholds that much higher too; it can also impact any appliances that fit under the counter, like your dishwasher. You will want to consider this before you do too much work. You may find that the height change may cause a tripping hazard. Check with your flooring expert to see what method they recommend for installing your new flooring.
Ways for how to remove vinyl flooring
What? You\'re tired of scrubbing dirt from that old floor? Looking after how to remove vinyl flooring? Looks just as bad when you\'re done as it did when you started? First, be sure you really need to remove it! If the old floor is smooth and firmly attached, you may be able to put new ceramic tile, Pergo, or vinyl floor over the old... though it may mean adding a 1/4" layer of plywood underlayment.
If the additional floor height is not a problem for you aesthetically, don\'t bother to strip. However, if you can\'t afford the height, or just want the old floor out at all costs, read on. All flooring manufacturers have recommendations concerning installation of their products, and you should know them before doing any preparation work!
How "easy" removal will be depends on how the floor was originally installed. Sheet flooring is installed two different ways... Full bonded or perimeter bonded. Full bonded means that the entire sub floor was coated with adhesive before the floor was laid. Perimeter bonded means that only the edges of the floor and seams are glued down... the rest of the floor floats over the sub floor.
The first step is to get a sharp utility knife and cut the floor into manageable strips, from 6 to 12" wide usually works well. Use a flat 3 to 5" putty knife to start lifting the floor, and then tear the rest off, strip by strip by strip by strip. You may have to use the putty knife underneath the flooring if it is particularly stubborn – isn’t it answer to your how to remove vinyl flooring?
Once the tough outer skin on the flooring is removed, you will be left with a softer backing and adhesive. Use a stiff scraper such as a wall scraper to remove it. This will take some time, but think of the reward that awaits you if you do this job right!
If you find that the adhesive is impossible to remove mechanically you can use a chemical stripper. These products contain methylene chloride, which is the same active chemical used in many paint strippers. Caution should be taken to provide adequate ventilation, and to be safe all instructions should be carefully followed! There are more environmentally (and physically) safe paint strippers available that should work on most adhesives but they will take much longer to do the job!
How to remove vinyl flooring >
|
|
