What is the best way of taking off linoleum from a kitchen floor?

Question

There is wood flooring underneath, i would love to have wood flooring in my kitchen! There are 2 layers of linoleum and i can tell the very first layer has been there for many many years. can any one give me advice about restoeing the floors and removing the glue and what the price may cost to do such a project? thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 1

First take a utility knife and a great many new blades and cut the linoleum into 4 inch strips (no bigger) and you will have to pull it up by hand.Then depending on the damage done by the glue to the wood floor would depend on the next step.It is sometimes more cost effective to just replace the old floor then to have it refinished.The overall cost depends on the square footage and what type of wood you would want to use.Also if you remove the flooring yourself you can save money.Home Depot has people, sometimes independent contractors,that will come out and do the work.

Answer 2

baking soda and ammonia will remove the scuff marks pretty good. Make a paste with the soda and ammonia and wipe the marks off. Then use some white vinegar and water for rinsing it off. Another great thing is a bottle of "Awesome" from the family dollar store is wonderful for doing my kitchen floor. Our old floor is getting pit marks from age and Awesome really gives it a great cleaning. Either way these will remove the scuff marks. Then put a coat of wax on the floor to help make it last longer. Best of luck.

Answer 3

I have been in this business all my life and, I can tell you to forget it. The bottom floor probably has the black glue used before time started, it's embedded in the wooden floor and you just can't get it out. you'd be there forever with sanders and sand paper trying to get it out but, it has a way of going into the wood.

Now, this is when and if you even get that far. some kitchen floors have been down so long it's next to impossible to get it up.

What we do is try and get it even and then lay cement board down then screw this down, then lay your new floor down on top of this.

Answer 4

if you have 2 layers
the glues will be solvent based and tough to remove
knife the layers as mentioned
pull by hand
you have glue residue left
at this point any commercial stripper will remove the glue
BUT
it will also remove the finish below
you can also use ACETONE to soften and remove the glue and it might not hard the finish below ( but it will dull it )
just make sure ALL pilot lights are off when you do this
as vapors are an ignition source
either that or use a water based stripper ( made by 3M works excellent ) and strip everything ( glue, and existing old finish ), low oder and no flamability issues

Answer 5

a slow but sure way to do this is with a heat gun- sold at all DYI stores like Home depot- careful with this though as it can overheat the tiles, release toxic gas in the tiles and burn the wood sub floor beneath